Thursday, June 4, 2026

Pasadena Nonprofit Seeks Backpacks and Supplies for 400 Students Before August Distributions

Friends In Deed

Friends In Deed’s annual drive serves families from its Food Pantry, with donation deadlines starting July 24

Friends In Deed is seeking donations to provide backpacks and school supplies to more than 400 students from its Food Pantry community, the Pasadena nonprofit said in a press release. Distributions are scheduled for two consecutive Saturdays August 1 and August 8 at the organization’s headquarters at 444 E. Washington Blvd.

The annual Back-to-School Backpack & Supply Drive targets children from low-income families in the Pasadena and Altadena areas, according to the press release. The supply list is recommended by schools in both communities. Last year, the organization distributed more than 400 backpacks and fully stocked supply bags, according to Friends In Deed; this year it is asking the community to match or exceed that number.

“There is nothing quite like handing a kid a backpack filled with everything they need for the year ahead,” said Tim Nistler, Director of the Food Pantry at Friends In Deed. “You can see it in their eyes: they feel ready and confident. That moment belongs to every single person who donates.”

Friends In Deed, which was founded in 1894 and celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2024, according to the organization, serves more than 600 households weekly through its Food Pantry, according to a 2025 Pasadena Weekly report. The Food Pantry serves low-income and no-income families in the greater Pasadena and Altadena areas, according to the organization’s website. It operates at 444 E. Washington Blvd., at the corner of Washington and Los Robles in Pasadena.

Donations can be made in four ways. Donors can purchase backpacks and supplies and drop them off at the Friends In Deed house. They can also shop the organization’s Amazon Wish List and have items shipped directly to the nonprofit. A third option is purchasing kits through the Sydney Paige Foundation’s Friends In Deed 2026 Backpack Drive page, where donors can choose a backpack, supply kit, or combo pack. Financial gifts are also accepted; monetary donors should select “Food Pantry” and note “Back to School” in the comment field, according to the press release.

When donating backpacks, the organization asks donors to avoid solid red or solid blue styles, a request made by local schools.

Logistics: Donation drop-offs are accepted beginning Saturday, July 4. Preferred drop-off times are Thursdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The deadline for school supply donations is Friday, July 24; the deadline for backpack donations is Friday, July 31. To arrange an alternate drop-off time, contact Tim Nistler at timn@friendsindeedpas.org or 626-797-6072.

“We rely on the generosity of our neighbors, and they always show up for our families in the most meaningful ways,” Nistler said.