06/16/2026
Backpack drive in Prescott
Our 2026 SCHOOL BACKPACK DRIVE is Underway!
Supporting Education in Rural Native Communities - The Museum of Indigenous People's Annual Backpack Drive runs through June 30th, 2026!
Each year, through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners, we collect new backpacks and school supplies to support Native students in rural communities. This campaign is more than a supply drive — it’s a commitment to helping young scholars begin the school year with confidence, dignity, and the tools they need to succeed.
From Prescott, AZ to communities across the Navajo Nation and other Native regions, your donations make a direct and meaningful impact.
How You Can Help
We will be accepting:
NEW backpacks
NEW school supplies
Monetary donations
Starting June 1st, 2026, donations may be dropped off at:
The Museum of Indigenous People - 147 N Arizona Ave Prescott, AZ 86301
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM – 4 PM
Supplies are distributed to Native students in rural communities with limited resources.
Why It Matters
For many families in rural Native communities, access to school supplies can be limited. A new backpack filled with essentials does more than prepare a student for class — it communicates care, encouragement, and belief in their future.
This annual campaign has become a joyful and meaningful tradition at the museum. It brings together donors, schools, volunteers, and community members who want to invest in the next generation.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributes from donors who provide supplies, to volunteers who sort and transport materials across long distances, to partner organizations who help us coordinate distribution.
Together, we can help equip young Native scholars with the tools of knowledge!
The Museum's Mission: "To instill understanding and respect for the Indigenous Cultures of the Southwest."
(Pictured: A young Native Scholar with her new backpack and school supplies during the 2025 Backpack Drive. Photo courtesy of long-time MIP Executive Director Cindy Gresser)
