The annual back-to-school initiative brought together faculty, staff and campus partners to collect enough supplies to fill more than 200 backpacks for local elementary students.
Temple University faculty, staff and community members collect school supplies during Fill the Flight, the university's annual back-to-school drive supporting North Philadelphia elementary students.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
Before the first school bell rings this fall, the Temple University community is helping local elementary school students start the school year equipped for success.
For the second consecutive year, Temple hosted Fill the Flight, its annual back-to-school supply drive, bringing together faculty, staff and university partners to collect and distribute school supplies for North Philadelphia students. The two-part community service initiative was organized in collaboration with Temple's Department of Public Safety, Klein College of Media and Communication, the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Engineering, Temple Ambler, and the Office of Government and Community Relations.
The initiative began on Tuesday, July 21, as members of the Temple community gathered around a Flight shuttle outside Founder's Garden, donating backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, loose-leaf paper, highlighters, erasers and other classroom essentials. By the end of the day, enough supplies had been collected to fill more than 200 backpacks, which were donated by the Temple University Police Association, for local students preparing for the new school year.
“A new school year is full of possibility, and every child deserves to begin it feeling prepared and confident,” said Denise Wilhelm, interim vice president for public safety and chief of police. “Seeing Temple faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members come together to support young people in North Philadelphia is a powerful reminder that even small acts of generosity can make a meaningful difference in a student's educational journey.”
Beyond collecting school supplies, the event created an opportunity for the Temple community to come together through service. Throughout the afternoon, faculty, staff and neighborhood residents stopped by to make donations, while complimentary water ice and pretzels encouraged attendees to stay longer, connect and celebrate their shared commitment to supporting local students.
“One of the most meaningful parts of my work at Temple is collaborating with colleagues across the university to advance our shared mission,” said Juliet Curci, assistant dean of college access and persistence in the College of Education and Human Development. “Fill the Flight brings departments together around a common purpose, demonstrating our collective commitment to supporting North Philadelphia students and families. It's one of those moments that makes me especially proud to be an Owl.”
The initiative concluded on Tuesday, Aug. 4, when volunteers reconvened to pack each backpack at the North Central Community Center, where they were distributed to local students and families ahead of the first day of school.
Fill the Flight exemplifies Temple's long-standing commitment to supporting the communities that surround its campuses. By helping students begin the school year with the tools they need to thrive academically, the initiative demonstrates how the university continues to translate service into meaningful, place-based impact.
The effort also aligns with Forward with Purpose, Temple's strategic plan, which identifies Place-based Impact as one of the university's core priorities. With Fill the Flight and other community partnerships, Temple continues to strengthen its relationship with North Philadelphia while investing in the success of its neighbors.