2026 Back-to-School Fair Recap
On Friday, July 31, Northern welcomed nearly 400 children, families, staff, volunteers, and community partners to our fourth annual Back-to-School Fair. Held on the George Connell field at the back of Northern’s campus, this year’s “Level Up Your School Year” celebration brought the community together for an afternoon filled with school supplies, family-friendly activities, helpful resources, food, and fun.
Throughout the event, children received backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies to help them feel prepared and confident as they head into the new academic year. Families also enjoyed lawn games, refreshments, giveaways, books, and opportunities to connect with organizations providing services throughout Philadelphia. Through Northern’s partnership with Sharing Excess, families received fresh produce as part of the 700 pounds donated for the event.
A major focus of the fair was connecting attendees with resources that could continue supporting their families beyond the event. Representatives from a wide range of local organizations were available to share information about behavioral health, transportation, recreation, career development, financial wellness, mentoring, and other community services.
Resource tables included:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence
City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) Education Support Center (ESC)
City of Philadelphia Department of Transportation
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Vengeance Unleashed Cheer Team
The event also welcomed Pennsylvania State Representative Tarik Khan, who represents the 194th Legislative District, including Roxborough and Manayunk. Representative Khan spent time connecting with families, Northern staff, and participating community organizations. Members of the local news media were also present to capture the celebration and highlight the community members, partners, and volunteers who helped make the day possible.
Throughout the fair, children, parents, staff members, and community partners shared their excitement about the upcoming school year and reflected on what made the event special. Their interviews helped capture the joy of the day, from children sharing their favorite activities and school subjects to parents discussing what they were most excited about for the year ahead.
More than a school-supply distribution, the Back-to-School Fair created a welcoming space where families could celebrate, make connections, and learn more about the support available within their community. The event demonstrated what can happen when nonprofit organizations, local businesses, public officials, volunteers, and community members work together toward a shared goal.
Northern is grateful to every staff member, volunteer, donor, sponsor, and community partner who contributed their time, resources, and energy to the event. Whether they donated school supplies, packed backpacks, managed activity stations, distributed produce, shared resources, or helped spread the word, each person played an important role in bringing the day to life.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in helping children and families “level up” for the new school year. We look forward to continuing to build meaningful partnerships and creating opportunities for our community to connect, celebrate, and thrive throughout the year.