About

Juneteenth Legacy United Back-to-School Community Celebration

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hytower Park in Covington, Virginia, Juneteenth Legacy United will host its annual Back-to-School Community Celebration, a day dedicated to ensuring local children begin the new school year with the confidence, resources, and encouragement they deserve.

For many families throughout the Alleghany Highlands and surrounding communities, preparing children for a new school year can create a significant financial burden. The rising cost of backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and other classroom necessities often forces parents and caregivers to make difficult decisions between meeting everyday household expenses and purchasing the items their children need to succeed in school. Our goal is to help relieve that burden while reminding every child that their community believes in them, supports them, and is invested in their future.

This year's celebration is proudly inspired by the Virginia 250 (VA250) commemoration, which recognizes the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding and encourages Virginians to honor the past while investing in the future. In recognition of this historic milestone, **Juneteenth Legacy United has set a goal of serving 250 children throughout our area, symbolizing both Virginia's ongoing 250th anniversary celebration and our commitment to preparing the next generation for success through education, service, and community partnership.

Our Back-to-School Community Celebration is much more than a backpack giveaway. It is a community-wide effort that brings together families, volunteers, businesses, faith-based organizations, civic groups, and local leaders with one common purpose: ensuring every child has the tools needed to begin the school year prepared and confident. It is an opportunity for neighbors to come together, strengthen community relationships, and demonstrate that every child is valued and supported.

Through the generosity of donors and community partners, we hope to distribute new backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, binders, calculators, hygiene items, lunch bags, and other educational essentials. We also welcome donations of new clothing, shoes, educational technology, and gift cards to help meet the individual needs of students and their families.

Families attending the event will also have the opportunity to connect with local organizations that provide educational, health, youth development, and family support services throughout the year. By bringing these community resources together in one location, we hope to strengthen relationships and ensure families know where to turn for assistance beyond the first day of school.

At Juneteenth Legacy United, we believe education is one of the greatest investments a community can make. When children have the resources they need to succeed, they enter the classroom with greater confidence, are better prepared to learn, and have a stronger foundation for future achievement. By reducing financial barriers and providing encouragement at the beginning of the school year, we help strengthen families while investing in the long-term success of our community.

Donations received for this event will directly support the purchase of backpacks, school supplies, educational materials, hygiene products, and other essential items needed to achieve our goal of serving **250 children**. Every monetary gift, in-kind donation, and volunteer contribution helps ensure that more students begin the school year equipped, encouraged, and ready to learn.

Juneteenth Legacy United believes that when a community invests in its children, it invests in its future. Together with our generous donors, volunteers, business partners, and community supporters, we hope the 2026 Back-to-School Community Celebration will honor the spirit of the Virginia 250 commemoration by celebrating service, strengthening community, and creating opportunities for the next generation to thrive.