Thank you so much to Denise Carleton for your generosity in providing backpacks for our boys.

Giving them the chance to choose their own unique bag gave them a small but powerful piece of ownership and self-expression at a time when so much of their world feels out of their control. Starting a new school year is hard enough for any teenager, but for these young men, walking in with a backpack that actually reflects who they are helps them feel like they belong, like everyone else, not marked as different. That confidence can make all the difference in how they carry themselves through the halls this year. Your kindness reminds these boys that people outside their immediate circumstances see them, care about them, and want good things for them. That message matters just as much as the backpacks themselves!