NBC4’s ‘Stuff The Backpack’ helps students get ready for success
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — NBC4 returns for the fifth year of Stuff The Backpack to assist students in Franklin and Licking counties. Our goal is to supply as many backpacks as possible – stuffed with essential supplies – to students in grades K through 12. Since 2018, NBC4’s Stuff The Backpack has served nearly 165,000 local students!
WANT TO DONATE? $10 can stuff one backpack! $270 can help an entire classroom!
To donate to Stuff the Backpack now please fill out the form below:
Please Make A Donation to Help “Stuff The BackPack” |
All donations are 100% tax-deductible through NBC4’s Stuff the Backpack fiscal sponsor, the United Way of Central Ohio.
We have a variety of easy ways you, your friends and family members can help:
- Buy school supplies and drop them off at a CME Federal Credit Union branch or Primary One Healthcare location.
- AMAZON WISHLIST: Buy supplies from our Amazon Wishlist and they will be sent directly to United Way of Central Ohio.
- Host a donation drive in your workplace or home!
- Give $10 through our partnership with Parichute and Crew member Josh Williams to cover the cost of a backpack and supplies for one child. (Just $30 for three local students!)
- Create personalized notes to include in the backpack and mail them to United Way of Central Ohio.

Every $10 donation provides at least one student with a school bag and a packet of essential supplies:
Supplies for grades K-5:
- Blunt scissors
- Crayons
- Eraser
- Glue stick
- Pencils
- Pocket Folders
- Ruler
- Wide Ruled Paper
Supplies for Grades 6-12
- Colored Pencils
- Highlighters
- Pocket Folders (With and without prongs)
- Pencils
- Pens
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Spiral Notebooks
Stuff The Backpack would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partner organizations:
CME Federal Credit Union, PrimaryONE Health, EASE Logistics, CAS and United Way of Central Ohio.
NBC4’s Stuff The Backpack is also partnering with Volunteers of America Operation Backpack and the Columbus Metropolitan Library- to learn more and donate click here.
If you, your organization, or your business would like to support Stuff The Backpack, please email nbc4stuffthebackpack@wcmh.com
Currently, NBC4’s Stuff The Backpack serves school districts in Franklin and Licking Counties. If your district would like to request participation in 2023 please email nbc4stuffthebackpack@wcmh.com.
STUFF THE BACKPACK DISCOUNTS:
COLUMBUS ZOO AND ZOOMBEZI BAY DISCOUNT:
With your Donation to NBC4’s Stuff The Backpack, you can get a discount on admission to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay! A monetary donation on NBC4i.com will get you a discount of $4 off regular price general admission to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium OR $6 off regular price general admission to Zoombezi Bay. This promotional discount will be each day from July 11 through July 29.
Here’s how to receive your discount:
- Look at your Stuff The Backpack donation receipt and identify the ‘codeword’
- Then go to www.ColumbusZoo.org and click on “tickets” and then “promotional code”
- Type in your ‘codeword’
- Choose which discounted Zoo or Zoombezi Bay tickets work for you!
Zoo and Zoombezi Bay Terms and Conditions: Each ticket grants the guest admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Children under 3 are free and do not require a ticket. For each ticket sold, $1 will be added to the purchase price to support the Zoo’s conservation efforts in saving wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. By clicking checkout, I agree that all admission ticket sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges, admission tickets are only valid for the venue listed on the face of the ticket.