Back-to-School, Brighter Futures: Supporting Over 750 Families Across Our Community

As summer comes to an end, families begin preparing for a new school year filled with opportunities, challenges, and fresh beginnings. However, the cost of school supplies can create financial stress for many households. This year, York Region Educational Services (YRES), in collaboration with Milliken Mills Library, brought the community together through its annual Back-to-School Drive to help students start the school year feeling prepared, supported, and confident.

Through the 2026 initiative, YRES supported more than 750 families, helping connect students with essential school supplies and making the transition into a new academic year a little easier.

Bringing Support Closer to Families

To make the initiative accessible to families across the region, the Back-to-School Drive offered pickup locations at several community sites: Milliken Mills Library (Markham), YRES Steeles Avenue Office (Markham), YRES 16th Avenue Office (Richmond Hill), & Thornhill Community Centre (Thornhill).

By offering multiple pickup locations, YRES helped bring essential resources closer to families throughout the community. These spaces provided opportunities for families to access support while highlighting the importance of making educational resources available to those who need them.

The collaboration with Milliken Mills Library was an important part of this year's initiative, demonstrating how partnerships between community organizations and public institutions can help address local needs and expand access to support.

Every School Supply Makes a Difference

A backpack, notebook, pencil, or set of markers may seem like a small contribution, but these essentials can make a meaningful difference in a student's educational experience. Having the necessary supplies helps students participate in classroom activities, organize their learning, and approach the school year with greater confidence.

The Back-to-School Drive was more than distributing supplies. It was about helping families manage back-to-school expenses while ensuring that students had the opportunity to begin the year ready to learn, explore, and grow.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community

YRES extends its sincere gratitude to Milliken Mills Library for collaborating with us on the 2026 Back-to-School Drive. We appreciate their partnership and commitment to supporting families and strengthening our community.

We’d also like to thank the community partners who came together and generously donated supplies and helped make the entire event possible. This includes volunteers, donors, and community members who contributed their time, resources, and generosity. From collecting and organizing supplies to preparing donations and assisting families, every contribution helped bring this initiative to life.

Together, these efforts demonstrate how community collaboration can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

Looking Ahead

Supporting students and families remains an important part of YRES's commitment to accessible education and community well-being. By helping ease the cost of school preparation, the Back-to-School Drive reflects the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

Together, we are helping students start the school year prepared and families feel supported. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the 2026 Back-to-School Drive and helped make this year's initiative possible.