Starting the school year off right starts with pencils, notebooks, and of course, backpacks. That’s why Whipple Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical partnered with our team, vendors, and community members this year to collect more than 800 backpacks for local students who needed a little extra support heading back to class.
How the 2026 Backpack Drive Came Together
The drive kicked off at the beginning of July and ran through August, giving our team, vendors, and neighbors across the Salt Lake Valley plenty of time to pitch in. Every backpack collected went toward one goal: getting kids ready for the first day of school with the supplies they need to succeed.
By the time the drive wrapped up, the response from the community pushed the final count past 800 backpacks. That kind of turnout doesn’t happen without people showing up for their neighbors, and we’re grateful to everyone who dropped off a backpack, spread the word, or donated supplies this summer.
Delivering Backpacks Where They’re Needed Most
We timed the donations to land during the first week of school, so students walked into their classrooms with what they needed on day one. This year, backpacks went to:
- Whittier Elementary in Salt Lake City
- Nibley Park Elementary in Salt Lake City
- Two local shelters serving at-risk youth in the community
Watch the 2026 Backpack Drive in Action
Get Involved Next Year
Backpack drives work because a whole community pitches in, not just one company. We’re already looking forward to running the drive again next year, and we’d love to have even more Salt Lake City neighbors, local businesses, and vendors join us.
Whether that means donating backpacks and school supplies, volunteering your time, or simply helping spread the word, every bit of support helps a student start the school year with confidence.
Local Schools: We’re Here for You Year-Round
Our commitment to Salt Lake City schools doesn’t end when the backpacks are delivered. If your school could use extra supplies, a guest speaker, volunteers, or other community support at any point during the year, reach out to us. Supporting the neighborhoods we serve is part of who we are at Whipple Cooling, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical, and we’re glad to help however we can.
Have a school or organization in mind for next year’s drive, or want to get involved as a volunteer or donor? Contact us and let’s put together an even bigger backpack drive in 2027.
