Nourish Phoenix, a nonprofit serving low-income individuals and families, recently completed its annual back-to-school supply drive, putting together close to 1,000 backpacks filled with supplies.

Organizers aid this year was NourishPHX’s most successful back-to-school drive with more than 965 children taking home a backpack stuff with school supplies.

“School builds resilience and helps to break the cycle of poverty,” said NourishPHX Executive Director, Beth Fiorenza. “By investing in our children’s education today, we are setting the stage for a lifetime of success.”

NourishPHX partnered with community members and local sponsors C. Myers Corp., All Saints' Episcopal Day School, Essendant, National Charity League, Blue Grace Group, Osaic and Arcadia News.

Backpacks were filled with necessary school supplies, such as paper, pencils, markers and folders. Every young student was also given a pair of new shoes.

Over the past several years, NourishPHX has transitioned from a transactional food and clothing pantry into a hub of community resources with the goal of bringing economic independence to its clients, officials said. Annual drives like this help support NourishPHX’s mission to provide pathways to self-sufficiency and are essential for NourishPHX to effectively serve the more than 20,000 people it does every year.

For information about upcoming drives and future volunteer opportunities at NourishPHX visit www.nourishphx.org.