AACM Backpack Drive Equips Arizona Students for School Success

The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM), through its Outreach Committee chaired by Tom Emele, successfully completed its 2026 Backpack & School Supply Drive to support Arizona students as they prepare for the upcoming school year. The drive was held from June 10 through June 24, 2026, collecting backpacks and essential school supplies for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing school supplies to children and families experiencing financial hardship. The donations will help ensure students begin the school year equipped with the supplies they need to learn and succeed. To make donating convenient for AACM members throughout the Valley, collection sites were hosted by AACM and participating member management companies at locations throughout the Valley. The support of these organizations helped make the drive accessible to members and contributed to its overall success. AACM extends its sincere appreciation to every participating organization for its partnership and commitment to giving back to the community.

Following the conclusion of the drive, members of the AACM Outreach Committee volunteered their time on Friday, June 26, at the AACM office to sort and organize the donated supplies before delivery. The committee organized the donations to help maximize the available storage space at Backpacks 4 Kids AZ and make distribution more efficient for the nonprofit's volunteers. The donations were delivered to Backpacks 4 Kids AZ on Tuesday, June 30, where they will be distributed to local students and families in time for the start of the new school year. 'Every child deserves to walk into their classroom on the first day of school feeling prepared and confident. In Phoenix, thousands of students lack the basic supplies needed to succeed. Backpacks 4 Kids AZ helps roughly 3,000 students annually, and we support over 400 families with food each week. We are incredibly grateful for the support of organizations like AACM, which allow us to continue providing for these children,' said Michele Tallberg, Director for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ.

AACM is a nonprofit professional organization representing community association managers and industry business partners across Arizona. Community outreach initiatives, including the Backpack & School Supply Drive, are organized through AACM's Outreach Committee. Backpacks 4 Kids AZ is an Arizona-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families in need by providing school supplies, backpacks, and essential resources. Through community partnerships and volunteer support, Backpacks 4 Kids AZ helps ensure local families have access to the resources they need to thrive. This partnership exemplifies how community managers and nonprofits can work together to make a tangible difference in the lives of students. For more information about the drive or how to get involved, readers can visit the AACM website.