Inaugural Event Delivers 167 Supply-Filled Backpacks and Meals in Edgewood

August 11, 2026

EDGEWOOD — To help local families tackle the financial strain of returning to the classroom, the East Mountain Food Pantry hosted its first-ever Back2School Bash at Venus Park, combining essential school supplies with weekend meal assistance.

The inaugural event delivered 167 pre-registered backpacks to local students. Each bag was filled with standard classroom supplies and supplemented with non-perishable food items—including macaroni and cheese, canned pasta, and granola bars—to support children on Saturday.

“Back to school is a very expensive time for a lot of our clients,” said Nikki Caudill, the East Mountain Food Pantry board member who conceived and spearheaded the event. “On top of that, the food meals [are a challenge] because the summer food programs go away when school starts. We just wanted to do something to give back in that way, help support our clients, and build relationships with our partners.”

The initiative was funded and stocked through a combination of monetary donations and donated school supplies gathered by community members.

While the pantry’s primary mission remains focused on addressing food insecurity, executive leadership noted that clients frequently ask for guidance on other community resources. The Back2School Bash served as a centralized hub, bringing together approximately two dozen community organizations, youth programs, Girl Scouts, and mental health service providers alongside the pantry’s distribution.

“We stay in our lane of food, but we would love to be a catalyst for lots of agencies and organizations who help our family members here,” said Amy Rome president of the East Mountain Food Pantry. “All the other vendors here are sort of icing on the cake, giving families more opportunities to engage.”

Organizers expressed strong satisfaction with the turnout and community engagement, confirming plans to make the Back2School Bash an annual event.

“It was a lot of work, but I am so pleased with it,” Caudill said. “I couldn’t be happier.”