Back to School Shop

“Enthralled” * “Excited” * “Amazed”

That describes each child when they got to meet a REAL author who took the time to speak with them about his books and personally signed each book – with a special illustration!

Akeem S. Roberts, author of the Class Pet Ghost Detective illustrated series, will be joining us again this year to speak with each child about the memorable characters he creates.

Your gift today of $15 will give each child a personally autographed copy of Milkshake the Disappearing Milk Snake! https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/build-a-library

Calling all knitters! We’re collecting handmade winter hats for children at our annual Back to School Shop this July. While we’re grateful for the beautiful handmade winter hats already donated, we’re still in need of more. If you’re searching for a meaningful knitting project, consider making a hat—or a few! Your handmade gift is sure to bring joy to a child. Please review our knitting guidelines for details - https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/knit-guidelines-2026

These days, new books are often a luxury – that’s why Back to School Shop gives every child who attends our annual “shop” the chance to choose a brand-new, age-appropriate book from a wide variety of selections.

JUST $15 WILL BUY A BRAND-NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK FOR A CHILD!
Your gift is a smart investment in a child’s success. https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/build-a-library

¿HABLAS ESPAÑOL?

We’re looking for bilingual volunteers to support families at our annual Back to School Shop event! Your Spanish language skills will play a key role in helping us communicate with parents and guardians and in making children feel welcome and at ease. If you’re able to help as a translator, please indicate this when you register to volunteer—and feel free to share this opportunity with others. ¡Muchas gracias!
Register here - https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/2026-volunteer-registration

Did you know that series books are a powerful way to boost literacy and love of reading?

When young readers become familiar with and connect to characters, they want to keep reading to find out what happens next!

That’s why we’re so excited to welcome author Akeem S. Roberts again, who will be signing the next book in his illustrated series - Class Pet Ghost Detective!
Your $15 gift will give each child a personally autographed copy of Milkshake the Disappearing Milk Snake!

WHY NOT MAKE A SPECIAL GIFT TODAY? https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/build-a-library

Sending warm Mother’s Day wishes to all the moms in our Back to School Shop community! From the mothers of our participants to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers, we are deeply thankful for everything you do. We hope you feel celebrated, appreciated, and truly cherished today.

Having books at home is key to fostering a lifelong love of reading and boosts confidence and academic success.

Books are expensive these days. And, unfortunately, not all families can spare the expense of buying new books for their children. But you can make sure every child who comes to Back to School Shop leaves with their very own perfect book to add to their growing personal library.

JUST $15 WILL BUY A BRAND-NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK FOR A CHILD!

Your gift of $15 will last a lifetime. https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/build-a-library

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Join us on July 26 for our annual Back to School Shop event and help elementary students from low-income families start the school year with confidence. Volunteers are needed for morning or afternoon shifts, with roles such as personal shopper, sneaker fitter, check-in attendant, and more—all in support of providing new school clothes and supplies at no cost. Be part of an effort that helps make their school year shine. Sign up here - https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/2026-volunteer-registration

🍎 Happy School Principals’ Day! 🍎

School Principal’s Day is celebrated annually on May 1st to recognize the crucial leadership, dedication, and hard work of K-12 principals. Today we celebrate the principals who lead with vision, heart, and an unwavering commitment to students and educators alike. Thank you for creating safe, inspiring learning environments and for shaping the future one school community at a time. Your leadership makes a lasting difference.

Do you love to knit?
Every year, one of the highlights for the children at our event is choosing handmade winter hats. We've been incredibly fortunate to have many local knitters contribute by making and donating these cozy hats. Over the years, we've collected nearly 3,000 handmade hats! If you're a knitter seeking a meaningful project, we'd love to have your help. Please check our knitting guidelines for more information - https://www.backtoschoolshop.org/knit-guidelines-2026