Backpacks given away since 2006!
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Merrick Community Services has hosted an Annual Backpack and School Supply Distribution event, preparing East Side Saint Paul youth for their next year of school.

Make a Donation!
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Receive a FREE backpack for your child!

A new school year will soon be upon us. Join us at Merrick Community Services on
Tuesday, August 12th for our Annual Backpack Giveaway event.

At the Event:

  • Receive a FREE backpack for your child(ren)
  • Receive FREE age-appropriate school supplies
  • Free food will be served
  • Learn about additional community resources available to you!

When: Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 • 4:30 pm - 8 pm

Location: Merrick Community Services, 1669 Arcade Street North, Saint Paul, 55106

Registration Details: There will be no pre-registration. Please note the following: You must be a Ramsey County Resident to participate. Please provide documents to prove your residency. This can include: Photo ID, Utility bill, or Lease. For each child you must also bring a school ID, medical or social security card. If you have any questions contact Zee Erickson at 651-219-5534 or email at zerickson@merrickcs.org.

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Ways You Can Help:

Sponsorship

An organization sponsorship in the amount of $250, $500 or $1,000 can go a long way in getting supplies and backpacks to East Side youth. Event sponsors will be acknowledged at the event, in our quarterly newsletter, on our website and will be given a table at our annual fundraising event. We are also seeking presenting sponsorship status which includes recognition at all three MCS events: Backpack Giveaway, Holiday Share and UpLift.

If interested, please contact Kate Kelly, Director of Development, at kkelly@merrickcs.org or at (651) 219-5557.

One-Time Gift

Give a one-time monetary gift which will go directly into purchasing school supplies and backpacks.
Click Here to Make a Donation Online

Donate New Backpacks and School Supplies

You can drop these off at Merrick Community Services between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm Monday through Thursday. Commonly needed supplies include:

Scientific Calculators/Graphing Calculators
USB Sticks
Mechanical Pencils
College lined notebooks
Ball point pens
3 ring binders
Rulers/Protractors
White out
Planners

Volunteer

To best serve our event attendees, we need volunteers to assist in distributing supplies and backpacks, directing traffic and being a welcoming presence.

Questions? Please contact Amy Votel at avotel@merrickcs.org or at (651) 348-6568.

Spread the Word! Get Creative!

Raising money or collecting donations for a worthy cause can be a way for colleagues, friends, or family to share a fun and meaningful activity together. Gather a group together and see which individual can raise the most money or collect the most school supplies. Don’t forget to celebrate the difference you’ve collectively made!

Know someone who would be interested in contributing to this event? Send them our way! We’d love to connect and share more about the importance of the event.

 

Help a child get their school year off to a great start!​

For more information, contact:

Registration Questions:

Zee Erickson
(651) 219-5534
zerickson@merrickcs.org

Donation & Volunteer Questions:

Amy Votel
(651) 348-6568
avotel@merrickcs.org