All students deserve to be ready to learn on their first day of school and to fit in with their peers. Our Ready for School program provides children ages 5-12 with brand new backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies. Studies have shown that the availability of books and other educational matierals is an important factor in school readiness and later academic and social success. By age four, children who live below the poverty line are 18 months behind what is expected for their age group; by age 10 that gap is still present. For children living in the poorest families, the gap is even larger. Become a community partner and sponsor a backpack for $15.