Today, The Salvation Army Fort Wayne is celebrating the 23rd year of the Tools for School program, which provides free backpacks and school supplies to local students in need.
News release from The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army Fort Wayne Marks 23 Years of “Tools for School”
Fort Wayne, Indiana (August 5, 2026) – Today, The Salvation Army Fort Wayne is celebrating the 23rd year of the Tools for School program, which provides free backpacks and school supplies to local students in need.
The distribution event is taking place today, Wednesday, August 5, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Supplies are being distributed to households who have preregistered, supporting students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The Salvation Army partnered with United Way Allen County and Cummins for an additional 450 backpacks and supplies. This year’s success was made possible thanks to the support of public and private collection sites across the community.
We thank all the collection sites, including:
- BAE Systems, Inc.
- Citizens Square
- CRST Specialized Transportation Inc.
- Fort Financial Credit Union
- Fort Wayne Orthopedics
- ProTailored Physical Therapy
- Sweetwater Sound
- Taye’s Treats
- Taylor Chapel
- Teaching Tree
- Walmart Coldwater
- Walmart Lima Road
- Walmart Manufacturing
A special thanks to 21 Alive for being the 2026 Tools for School Media Sponsor!
In addition to backpack distribution, several local agencies are on site offering services and resources that may benefit attending families.
Participating organizations include:
- Allen County Public Library
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Associated Churches
- AWRC
- Brightpoint
- Circles of Allen County
- Department of Health
- Fort Financial
- Fort Wayne Zoo
- Healthier Moms and Babies
- Iris Family Support Center
- Jared Comfort Dog
- Journey
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program NE. IN
- NIPSCO
- PFW
- Power House
- Project 216
- Super Shots
- Tamed- JB Solutions HAIRCUTS
- The Literacy Alliance
- Time Values
- YWCA NEIN
“For 23 years, this program has helped struggling families with students going back to school by providing basic school supplies to those who need it most,” said Dena Smith, Corps Officer at The Salvation Army Fort Wayne. “We are grateful for the generosity of the individuals and organizations who made this a reality.”
This year The Salvation Army was able to serve over 1,000 children with back packs and school supplies.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has been serving the greater Fort Wayne Community since 1886. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination. In 2025, The Salvation Army provided food, clothing, shelter, emergency assistance, senior programing, and community support to 33,174 individuals.
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