Backpack for Every Back – OP and Hope ry’s backpack donation campaign ensures a happy start of the school year for thousands of children and young people

Families’ finances are under increasing strain due to sharply rising living costs. This is why it is increasingly important to support the equal opportunities of children and young people. The campaign aims to ensure an equal start of school: the goal is that as many children as possible have a backpack right from the first day of school. Backpacks are also needed for older children and youngsters.

The donation points and schedules will be published on this page in June.

How the donation campaign works

• Anyone can donate.
• Donated items can be delivered during normal opening hours to any OP branch taking part in the campaign between 8 and 26 July.
• We hope that the donated backpack is new and packed neatly. At the donation points, donors may also write a personal message for the recipient on a card placed inside the backpack.
• The OP cooperative bank will deliver the backpacks to Hope ry’s local activity team that sorts the donations in early August and distributes them directly to the students. Some banks also cooperate with local social welfare services and other organisations in handing out the backpacks.

Collection points:

 
The first backpacks were donated in 2017, and the campaign quickly grew to become nationwide. Every year, we have received and handed out thousands of donated backpacks. Last August, we distributed over 2,800 backpacks as well as other school supplies to students of various ages across Finland.

Hope ry has the important goal of providing all children with an equal chance to thrive in everyday life. OP Financial Group also promotes equal opportunities across Finland and wants to improve children’s and young people’s confidence in the future.