🎒 Fill the Backpack Challenge – Help Us Make a Difference This Back-to-School Season! August 1, 2025

🎒 Fill the Backpack Challenge – Help Us Make a Difference This Back-to-School Season!

At The Salon Professional Academy in Maplewood, we believe in using our talents, time, and teamwork to support the community we love. This back-to-school season, we’re stepping up in a big way through our Fill the Backpack Challenge — and we’re inviting YOU to be a part of it!

What’s the Challenge?

Our students and staff have teamed up in a friendly competition to fill as many backpacks as possible with essential school supplies for local students and families in need. It’s not just about who can collect the most — it’s about rallying together to make a real impact.

We’re proud to be an official drop-off site for the Backpack Program in partnership with Family Pathways, aiming to fill 500 backpacks by Labor Day. These backpacks will be distributed across nine local food shelves and the Black Dog Hill domestic abuse emergency shelter.

How You Can Help:

We’re making it easy for our guests and community to get involved!
✅ Bringing a donation? Drop items off when you come in for your appointment
✅ Not a guest? You can still donate — just stop by during regular business hours
✅ Want to give financially? A $30 donation fills one backpack! Visit FamilyPathways.org

Most-Needed School Supplies:

• Washable markers (10-pk)

• Crayons (24-pk)

• Colored pencils

• #2 pencils

• Pens (black/blue)

• Highlighters

• Erasers, scissors (rounded)

• Glue sticks

• Pocket folders, spiral notebooks

• Pencil pouches, sharpeners

• Tissues, dry erase markers

Middle and high school needs:

• Headphones

• Calculators

• Sticky notes

• Weekly planners

• USB flash drives

• 3-ring binders

• College-ruled loose-leaf paper

• Tabbed dividers

Most-Needed Backpack Program Foods:

• Healthy snacks (nuts, granola bars, dried fruit)

• Canned meals (Spaghettios, ravioli, etc.)

• Canned fruit

• Peanut butter & jelly

• Cereal

• Mac & cheese / ramen

• Canned meat (chicken, tuna, etc.)

Let’s Do This—Together!

Whether you’re a student, client, community member, or first-time visitor, every donation makes a difference. Let’s fill every backpack with not just supplies, but with hope, opportunity, and a fresh start for the school year.

📍 Drop-off Location:
The Salon Professional Academy
3000 White Bear Ave N, Maplewood, MN
📅 Month of August