Backpacks Ain’t Enough: Building Real Unity in the Community

I been pulling up at events all summer long, and let me tell you what I saw: every block, every corner, every church parking lot, every nonprofit—everybody giving away backpacks and school supplies. And don’t get me wrong, I love the heart behind it. Ain’t nothing wrong with wanting to help our babies start the school year off right. But let’s be real, everybody did the same thing.

I watched it with my own eyes. One Saturday over on Prospect, book bags stacked high. Next weekend in Raytown, another parking lot flooded with supplies. Week after week, same script, different location. My own son—who didn’t even need no supplies—came home in the last four weeks with five backpacks. Five. That’s money that could’ve been put somewhere else. Guess where them bags sitting now? In the corner. And I ain’t the only parent who can say that.

Here’s the hard truth: we got backpacks, but some kids still ain’t got shoes. We got pencils, but some kids still hungry. We got folders, but some kids embarrassed to even walk into school because their clothes too worn out. And while we was flooding the city with duplicate blessings, the real needs went untouched.

The National Center for Children in Poverty reports that more than 30% of Black children in America live below the poverty line. That means mama is choosing between paying the light bill or putting groceries on the table. That means school lunch might be the only meal a child gets. That means some of our kids got five backpacks and zero pairs of fresh sneakers. In Kansas City alone, nearly 1 in 5 kids live in poverty. Every classroom got kids carrying silent struggles—empty stomachs, no winter coat, holes in their socks. And while we proud to hand them a bag full of crayons, they still going home to the same cold reality.

But what if we did it different? What if next year, instead of everybody running their own event, we came together? Picture it: one massive community hub. Rent out the convention center, a big park, or Arrowhead’s parking lot if we had to. Every organization, every church, every nonprofit setting up their section. Not just school supplies—but clothes, shoes, food, hygiene products, haircuts, health checkups, financial resources, job applications for parents. A real one-stop shop for survival and success.

No one group can do it all. But if we all played our part—different lanes, same mission—we could cover every base. One group handles school supplies. Another handles food distribution. Another locks down clothing and shoes. Somebody sets up a financial literacy corner. Somebody else provides healthcare and mental health screenings. Another team blesses single mothers with childcare sign-ups and household support. Everybody don’t gotta do everything. But everybody gotta do something different.

Because while we celebrating the backpack giveaways, here’s what’s really happening. Kids going to bed hungry because backpacks don’t fill stomachs. Students getting bullied because their clothes ain’t up to par. Single mothers breaking down in tears because even though their kids got new crayons, the rent is still due, the fridge is still empty, and the gas tank is still on E. Backpacks don’t solve that. But unity might.

And unity ain’t just a dream, it’s a plan. We can do it by next school year if we serious. First, form a coalition. Call together all the churches, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders who did giveaways this year. Instead of competing, create a shared plan. Pool resources. Divide responsibilities. Second, secure a central venue. Something big enough for everybody to set up—one date, one location, one mission. Third, diversify the support. Assign focus areas. Some groups supply backpacks. Others provide food boxes. Others handle clothing donations. Another does free haircuts. Another covers school physicals and dental checks. No duplication—everybody covers a gap. Fourth, resource families, not just kids. While kids get what they need, moms and dads can visit resource tables—job leads, financial coaching, rental assistance sign-ups, mental health resources, childcare programs. That way, the whole household walks away stronger. Fifth, keep it going year-round. Don’t just pop up in August and disappear. Rotate monthly—back-to-school in August, coat drive in October, food drive in December, tax prep help in February. One body, many movements.

And let me be clear: I ain’t downing nobody. I thank God for every backpack given, every pencil passed out, every dollar spent. The heart is pure. But the method is broken. If five different groups spent $10,000 each on supplies, that’s $50,000 total. Imagine if we split that: $15,000 for supplies, $15,000 for food, $10,000 for clothing and shoes, $5,000 for health services, $5,000 for single mother support. That ain’t just a backpack giveaway—that’s a life upgrade. That’s real community impact.

We can’t keep doing good things if they don’t lead to greater change. Backpacks are good, but they ain’t solving poverty. They ain’t solving hunger. They ain’t solving the deeper issues. We gotta choose unity. We gotta play different positions on the same team. We gotta stop duplicating blessings while leaving other needs untouched. Because at the end of the day, our kids deserve more than a bag—they deserve a future. And it’s on us to give them both.

So Kansas City, next year let’s do it bigger. Let’s do it better. Let’s do it together. No more copycat giveaways. No more wasted funds. No more kids with five backpacks and no shoes. No more single mothers crying because the book bag don’t pay the bills. Let’s unite for the real fight. Let’s make sure our babies walk into school not just supplied—but strong, supported, and secure. That’s how we change the city. That’s how we change the story.

Sincerely,

Pastor Timothy D. Hayes Jr.