Back to School: A Fresh Start Isn’t Always So Simple
- BFT
- Aug 5
- 2 min read

For many students, the first day of school brings excitement—new backpacks, sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, and the chance to reconnect with friends. But for youth in foster care, back to school often looks and feels very different.
Instead of a familiar routine, it may be a brand-new school, again. New hallways to navigate. Classrooms filled with unfamiliar faces. Teachers who don’t yet know their story. They may have left behind friends and supportive educators at their previous school—or changed schools more times than they can count.
Some of our youth haven’t been enrolled in school consistently due to the instability they’ve experienced. Others are catching up after educational neglect and need extra support just to stay on track. And for those still in transition—without a permanent placement or enrolled school—our office may be their classroom for now.
💜 Imagine trying to focus on multiplication or grammar when you’re unsure where you’ll sleep next week—or whether anyone in your new school knows your name.
At Bringing Families Together, we work every day to support the educational and emotional needs of youth in foster care. But we can’t do it alone. As part of our Back to School Campaign, we are collecting donations of school supplies and learning materials for children and teens in grades 1–12.
🎒 Items needed include:
Backpacks
Notebooks & pencils
Flashcards
Workbooks
Age-appropriate educational activities and resources
and more!
We are committed to helping our youth feel confident, prepared, and seen. Because every student deserves to start the school year with dignity, support, and a sense of hope.
📦 Donations can be mailed or dropped off at:
Bringing Families Together
7151 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
Hazelwood, MO 63042
📧 To coordinate a drop-off, contact Chad Baker at chadb@bringingfamiliestogether.com
🌐 To view our Back to School Supplies Campaign donations page:👉 Click HERE.
With your help, we can make sure our youth don’t just go back to school—they go back feeling ready, supported, and strong.
Thank you—together we can make a difference for our youth in care. 💜