LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Kentucky, in partnership with the Kentucky College of Barbering and WeCare, welcomed hundreds of local families to its West Louisville Opportunity Center on Saturday for its annual Backpack Bash, providing students with the tools and resources they need for a successful start to the school year.
The free community event distributed 500 backpacks filled with school supplies and connected families with local organizations offering valuable community resources and services. Attendees also received free health screenings, enjoyed family-friendly activities, snacks, and additional giveaways throughout the afternoon.
The Backpack Bash reflects Goodwill Kentucky’s ongoing commitment to help Kentuckians find pathways out of poverty by removing barriers to opportunity and connecting families with resources that support long-term success.
“This event is more than backpacks and school supplies—it’s about helping students begin the school year with confidence and ensuring families know they have a community that supports them,” said Amy Luttrell, president and CEO of Goodwill Kentucky. “We’re grateful to our partners at the Kentucky College of Barbering and WeCare, as well as the volunteers and community organizations who made this day possible. Together, we’re investing in brighter futures for Louisville’s children and families.”
By helping ease the financial burden of back-to-school expenses and bringing critical services directly into the community, the Goodwill Kentucky Backpack Bash supports students’ readiness to learn while strengthening the network of support available to families. Through partnerships like these, Goodwill Kentucky continues to invest in educational success and economic mobility across the communities it serves.
To learn more about Goodwill Kentucky’s impact on the Commonwealth, visit GoodwillKY.org.
About Goodwill Kentucky
For more than 100 years, Goodwill Kentucky has helped Kentuckians find pathways out of poverty through the transformative power of work. Operating in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, Goodwill Kentucky places over 3,000 Kentuckians into jobs each year through its 1,400-plus employer partners and its own retail stores. These life-changing opportunities are made possible through donations to Goodwill Kentucky stores and community support. The organization reinvests approximately 90 cents of every dollar earned in its retail stores into job training and workforce programs. When you give to Goodwill, you do a lot of good.