The Jayson Tatum Foundation expanded its Annual New Backpack & New School Supplies Collection across multiple St. Louis recreation facilities, ensuring more children and families had the resources they needed to start the school year with confidence.
Serving youth from Wohl, Tandy, Gamble and Cherokee Recreation Centers, the 2025 initiative reflected a broader commitment to access, equity, and community resilience. In addition to distributing backpacks filled with essential school supplies – including notebooks, folders, pencils, and more – this summer, the Foundation responded directly to community needs following the May tornado by providing school uniform shirts, socks, and underwear to children whose families were impacted.
By extending the program across multiple locations, the Foundation met families where they are, expanding reach, increasing participation, and strengthening neighborhood-level engagement. Each event created a welcoming, high-energy environment focused on encouragement, connection, and readiness for the school year ahead.
The 2025 New Backpack & New School Supplies Collection reinforced the Foundation’s mission to equip, inspire, and uplift young people across St. Louis. As families left with both tangible resources and renewed confidence, the initiative once again demonstrated the power of community-centered support in helping every child start the school year strong.
