Each year, as students prepare to head back to school, SELCO partners with community partners to make sure children around Oregon can start their school year with the essentials.
From backpacks and hygiene kits to books and classroom essentials, our back-to-school efforts help remove any potential barriers kids might have from learning in a comfortable environment.
We’ve always believed every student deserves to learn without barriers. This back-to-school season, we’re continuing that work by getting involved and helping fill gaps and offering a helping hand where students and families might need it most. Below are some of the back-to-school initiatives we supported in 2025.
Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties – Backpack Drive
We’re proud to team up with the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties, as the presenting sponsor for their annual backpack giveaway, during which 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were provided for students in the area. SELCO team members participated in the drive by handing out backpacks to the youths and their families who attended. They even helped find the exact colors some of the kids requested, ensuring they felt confident and ready to take on a new school year.
Family Access Network – Community Supply Drive
In Central Oregon, our three branches in Bend, two in Redmond, and our sole branch in Burns hosted supply drives to collect backpacks, water bottles, and other essentials for the Family Access Network (FAN). For over 20 years, FAN has connected youths and families in Central Oregon with services that ensure kids can attend school and thrive. Every donation during our community supply drive helps local families bridge the gap between need and opportunity, giving students a stronger start to the year.
Bethel Education Foundation – Hygiene Drive
We also partnered with the Bethel Education Foundation (BEF) to provide hygiene items requested the most by schools in the area. BEF, founded in 2009, focuses on enhancing and investing in educational excellence by supporting the mental and physical growth of Bethel students through assistance programs. Being a part of this drive was a no-brainer for us, as we believe every student should feel cared for and confident going into each school year.
NeighborImpact Head Start – Book Donation Match
SELCO also contributed nearly $5,000 to support early literacy for families in Central Oregon by matching community book donations for the NeighborImpact Head Start program. NeighborImpact has been around since 1985, and their mission has been to represent and serve economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. One of their incredible community initiatives is partnering with Roundabout books, a local bookstore in Bend, to help donate new books to families enrolled in Head Start programs.
Why We Step Up
Supporting education has always been at the heart of who we are. That’s why we continue to invest in students, educators, and families across Oregon, helping remove barriers to education in any way possible.
We partner with local organizations because we know real impact happens when communities work together. Whether it’s matching donations, hosting drives, or volunteering our own time, we’re proud to keep showing up for students who deserve every opportunity to succeed.
Published August 21, 2025
