Anchorage School District staff told the Communications Committee May 29 that the district will lead a back‑to‑school backpack and school‑supply effort this summer and is soliciting donations, volunteers and community partners to help distribute supplies.

Tony Riley, the district’s senior director for equity, inclusion and community engagement, said the district is hosting the supply distribution in partnership with Alaska BIPOC educators and that Lutheran Social Services stepped back this year, prompting ASD to take the lead. Riley said the district has already secured 5,000 backpacks and that donation boxes and a donations link will be set up around town; staff said some retail partners and the library have agreed to host collection boxes.

Riley said the district planned to pack supplies in early August and provided a public packing date: “Friday, August 1 — it’ll happen from 11 to 7,” he said. Staff said they would offer transportation for families who need it and planned to demonstrate a new transportation app at the event.

A staff member told the committee that, beyond the 5,000 purchased backpacks, the district has received about 7,000 in additional donated supplies so far and will preserve some store‑purchased supplies for families who shop locally. The committee discussed corporate outreach and school‑business partnerships; staff said the district had contacted more than 300 potential corporate donors and created an online donation link so community members can give money for supplies.

Board members and staff discussed logistics and asked for a donation‑request list; staff said they would circulate a detailed supplies list and the small business partnership donation link to committee members.