BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- The Berrien Community Foundation is helping students get ready to learn this fall by providing 1,100 backpacks filled with school supplies for students. 

Backpacks for Good is a school readiness event hosted at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park on Aug. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The event is open to students living in the 49022 ZIP code, regardless of what school the student attends.  

“Backpacks For Good isn’t just about school supplies – it’s about lifting a weight off of parents’ shoulders and making sure every child starts the school year ready to succeed,” said Lisa Cripps-Downey, president of Berrien Community Foundation.  

“By providing essential supplies, food for families and community resources, we’re helping families focus less on cost and more on what truly matters – their child’s education and confidence.” 

Backpacks will be filled with grade-appropriate school supplies for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. 

Whirlpool Corporation is sponsoring part of the event and gathered a large number of employees to help with packing backpacks. 

“By helping young people in this community prepare for school and fostering their excitement for learning, we are investing in their educational future. This project supports Whirlpool Corporation’s vision of ‘Improving Life at Home’,” stated Traci Robinson, senior manager, community relations, and managing director of the Whirlpool Foundation. 

Farm-fresh vegetables and other food items will be available along with the backpacks and school supplies.  

Families living in the 49022 ZIP code are encourages to bring their students and no registration is required.  

There will be three Backpacks for Good events throughout Benton Harbor:  

1.      Students who live in the 49022 ZIP Code 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park. This event is in partnership with National Night Out and is open to students who live in the 49022 ZIP Code, regardless of the school they attend. 

2.      Students attending Brandywine or Niles Schools 

Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Niles High School parking lot. This event is open to students attending Brandywine Community Schools or Niles Community Schools, regardless of the ZIP Code in which they live. 

3.      Students attending Coloma, Watervliet or Hagar #6 Schools 

Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Coloma Junior High School parking lot. This event is open to students attending Watervliet Public Schools, Coloma Community Schools or Riverside Hagar #6 School, regardless of the ZIP Code in which they live. 

 For more information on this event, visit the website.