The Waterloo Regional Police Service is once again challenging theOfficers with backpacks community to take part in its ninth annual Backpack Challenge.

The challenge encourages businesses and residents to purchase new backpacks, lunch bags, school supplies, or gift cards to be donated to children and families in need.

The community has donated more than 28,000 backpacks over the past eight years, along with thousands of dollars in gift cards and school supplies. The items are donated directly to families and more than 25 child and youth organizations throughout Waterloo Region to ensure they have an exciting back-to-school experience and are prepared for the year ahead.

Donate a Backpack at Any Police Division

Donations of new backpacks, lunch boxes, school supplies, or gift cards can be dropped off at any of our police divisions until August 17, 2026. If you would like to donate school supplies, we kindly ask that they be donated separately rather than placed inside backpacks.

When possible, we kindly ask that backpacks be of good quality and a suitable size to better meet the needs of students throughout the school year.

If you have a large number of backpacks to donate, contact us at backpacks@wrps.on.ca to make special arrangements.  

Headquarters

200 Maple Grove Road,
Cambridge, Ontario N3H 5M1
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

North Division

45 Columbia Street East
Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4N7
Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Central Division

200 Frederick Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4G3
Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

South Division

176 Hespeler Road
Cambridge, Ontario N1R 6V7
Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Get a Backpack

We work with several community partners to help hand out backpacks at special events across Waterloo Region. Pre-registration online is required and will open in early August. 

Availability will be based on the number of backpacks we receive.

backpacks

Questions about the Backpack Challenge? Contact Us.