WeLoveU Foundation brought “Packs on Backs” campaign to three communities in Wilmington, DE on August 27 as back-to-school costs hit record highs
Source: WeLoveU Foundation
WILMINGTON, Del. — As families brace for record back-to-school spending, the International WeLoveU Foundation is bringing its Packs on Backs campaign to Delaware, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey this fall, providing students with new backpacks and essential school supplies to help them start the year prepared to learn. WeLoveU volunteers, educators, community leaders and local partners took part in the August 27 event in Wilmington, Delaware and will take part in other events in Washington, D.C., on September 3; and New Jersey on September 9.
The need is acute: according to the National Retail Federation’s 2026 back-to-school survey, families with children in elementary through high school expect to spend an average of $863.86 per student this year, including $146.45 on school supplies alone, as total K–12 back-to-school spending is projected to reach a record $43.3 billion nationwide.
Packs on Backs addresses one of the most practical barriers to learning: having the basic tools needed to participate fully in the classroom. The campaign is part of WeLoveU’s broader Closing the Homework Gap initiative, which addresses barriers — beyond technology — that can prevent students from having equitable access to education, from backpacks and notebooks to writing materials and other classroom essentials.
“We know how stressful back-to-school season can be for families financially,” said B.J. Hu, Executive Director of the International WeLoveU Foundation. “By providing essential school supplies, we not only help students feel prepared, but also show them that their community cares about their education and future.”
By bringing volunteers and partners directly into schools and neighborhoods, WeLoveU aims to help students start the year equipped while strengthening ties between schools, families and the broader community. The Foundation invites community members, businesses and educators to get involved — by volunteering, hosting a school-supply drive, partnering with WeLoveU, or identifying schools that could benefit from additional resources.
For more information about the Packs on Backs campaign, visit weloveuusa.org.
About the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation
The International WeLoveU Foundation is an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah founded WeLoveU as a vehicle to promote unity and friendship among all people of the global village — beyond nationality, race, religion, and socioeconomic status — through impactful volunteerism within the initiatives of blood drives, education, emergency relief, environmental protection, international aid, and community well-being.
WeLoveU has received more than 100 honorary and presidential awards from various countries and governments including the U.S. President’s Call to Service Award for volunteerism and the Green Apple Award for best environmental practice. Today WeLoveU has helped 73 countries in 249 regions around the world. For more information, visit weloveuusa.org.
