Everett families who want to help Title I students start the school year with a full backpack can drop off supplies at two local stores starting Friday.

The Everett Public Schools Foundation will collect donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16, at the QFC at 4919 Evergreen Way in Everett and the Fred Meyer at 12906 Bothell-Everett Highway in Mill Creek, the Everett Herald reported.

The foundation's goal: fill more than 3,600 backpacks for students at Title I schools across Everett Public Schools, according to the EPS Foundation website. Title I schools serve high concentrations of students from low-income families.

Items needed include backpacks, notebooks, pencils, erasers, scissors, colored pencils, highlighters and markers.

The foundation said it appreciates community support in helping students start the year prepared.

As we reported July 22, the campaign also needs roughly 250 volunteers. Football players from Cascade, Everett High and Henry M. Jackson high schools are signed up to help unload donation buses, according to My Everett News.

After the collection weekend wraps, volunteers will gather Monday, Aug. 17, and Tuesday, Aug. 18, to pack the filled backpacks for distribution before the first day of school.

Residents who cannot drop off supplies in person can send a monetary donation via Venmo to @EverettPublicSchoolsFoundation. The foundation encourages donors to check whether their employer offers a corporate matching gift program.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the foundation's website or email campaign coordinator Angie Sievers at [email protected].

McClain Insurance Services and Boeing, which held an employee collection drive in July, have already contributed to the 2026 campaign.