What is Beyond Backpacks? 

Beyond Backpacks is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit whose vision is for every child in Yamhill County to be equipped for academic success. We serve Pre K-12 students throughout Yamhill County at a one-day event before the start of the school year. We believe deeply in children starting the school year on a positive note, with a feeling that they belong and can contribute to their classroom. 

Is it just backpacks and school supplies?

The Beyond Backpacks event is like a school carnival for the whole family. We are often able to supply not just backpacks and school supplies for Pre K-12 students, but also: stuffed animals for younger siblings, winter layers for kids, athletic shoes, dental hygiene supplies, books and pre-literacy kits, and snacks. There is a time at the end for parents to connect with providers about community resources while children play games.

Who is eligible to participate?

Beyond Backpacks serves children in grades Pre K-12 who attend public school or home school in Yamhill County with demonstrated need. 

How do you define demonstrated need?

○ Family is currently receiving assistance from a referral partner. 

○ Family cannot meet basic needs.

○ Family is able to meet basic minimum needs but has no additional resources for school supplies. If the family purchases school supplies, they go without something essential like food or utilities. 

○ A student feels excluded, ashamed or embarrassed without supplies due to non-financial trauma that prevents the acquisition of supplies. Trauma examples:

Who is NOT eligible to participate?

• Preschool students attending Head Start or private preschool programs
• Community college and university students
• Students attending private school
• Students attending schools outside Yamhill County

When and how can families get signed up?

Families with school-aged children who could benefit from our program model get referred by agencies they already work with who are familiar with their clients and their clients’ needs.  The referral request period is open each spring. Our referral partners set their own criteria and may only refer the clients they are already serving in their own programs.

Who are Beyond Backpacks’ referral partners? 

Our referral agencies provide services to children and/or families who have needs – usually economic but not always. They include government agencies, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and medical and educational affiliates. You can find a list of current referral partners here on our website.

How do we know we have been referred and you are expecting us at the event?

1. In the spring, a referral partner completes a referral form for your household/child(ren) → The referral partner automatically receives a confirmation email. You can request that they forward this to you.
2. Within three weeks of receiving the referral, we will send the adult contact a unique participation code for each eligible child (one code per child, not per family) → Confirmation codes will be sent to: participant emails, participants phones with text ability, sometimes referral partner emails. (This process is done manually.) These individuals codes are required for all other communication about each child’s participation.
3. In early August, we will send appointment details (date, time and location) to the adult contact via text and email. → (This process is done manually.)
4. If we are able to partner again to provide athletic shoes, that information will be requested at a time to be determined, probably late July or early August.
5. Attend our event in person on a Saturday in August (anticipating August 17, 2024 but exact date TBD) at your appointment time. We anticipate Sue Buel Elementary School as our McMinnville event site and the Newberg site is still to be determined.

Is this event drop-in or must you have an appointment?

Appointments are required in advance. We do not sign up any new participants on event day. This is for our event to run safely and smoothly and to make sure we have supplies for every participating child.

Our town has its own program. But we already applied with Beyond Backpacks. What should we do now?

We share our recipient lists with equivalent programs. If they partner with us, there is nothing else you need to do. We’ll try to post that information here but if in doubt, ask the other program, your referral partner, or us.

We were already referred but have not yet received our codes. Another program is asking if they should refer us also. Should we sign up a second time?

No! Each child should be referred only once. You will receive a code for each child within 3 weeks. If you have doubts, check with the referral partner who referred you initially that they received a confirmation email

What is expected of participating families?

Beyond Backpacks 2024 bilingual family expectations and referral acknowledgement

We recommend arriving about 10 minutes before the allotted appointment time and estimate about one hour for the full experience, start to finish. 

An adult should accompany the child for the whole appointment, but it does not have to be the adult who signed up the kids or received the confirmation codes. Children can be accompanied by an adult relative, neighbor, caregiver or family friend. 

We cannot be there that day, or I can be there but my kids cannot. Can we still get supplies?

In almost all cases, the answer is no. Each child must be personally present to choose his or her own school supplies at the Beyond Backpacks event. Exceptions are not made for vacation, sports, activities, employment, oversleeping, etc. We make efforts to make accommodations for extenuating circumstances such as illness. This is handled on a case-by-case basis, and we cannot guarantee assistance.

We need to make a change (expected school, address, phone number or email address).

You or your referral partner that referred you can provide updates through our Participant Request for Change Form.

This form must be completed for each child (not each family). To use this form you will need:

• The individual confirmation code for each eligible and participating child.
• Correctly spelled first name
• Date of birth

Updates via email, phone, text and Facebook will NOT be accepted.

We can only respond to updates provided at least 24 hours before our event.

Can we give you updates without the kids’ codes?

No. We are using individual codes this year to improve our communication and the details needed for planning. All updates will require an individual code.

What do we do if we don’t need supplies anymore?

Thank you for letting us know! You or the referral partner that referred you can provide updates through our Participant Request for Change Form. Remember that:

• This must be completed for each child (not just each family), and
• The child’s confirmation code is required to submit these updates.

We are struggling to get transportation. What do we do?

We know this can be a great challenge. We recommend you contact your referral partner and see if they can help you problem-solve. If you are able to arrange public transportation or plan a ride but find it conflicts with your appointment time, please complete our Participant Request for Change Form as soon as possible. We will adjust your time if transportation is a challenge for you.