The grounds and facilities around Boulevard Elementary were buzzing with energy, pride, and community spirit as the Gloversville Enlarged School District hosted its 10th Backpack Giveaway. Under clear skies, this milestone event set a new district record, distributing more backpacks and essential school supplies to local scholars than in any single year since the tradition began.
The event transformed the school into a vibrant community celebration where families spent the afternoon grabbing food, connecting with local organizations, and getting scholars fully equipped for the first day of class.
Bringing an event of this scale to life required an extraordinary team effort. Deepest appreciation goes to the GESD Buildings and Grounds crew, who worked tirelessly across the campus to handle all the outdoor setup, manage logistics, and keep everything running smoothly from start to finish. Special thanks also go to our dedicated cafeteria and food services staff for keeping everyone energized by prepping and serving up delicious hot dogs throughout the afternoon.
That spirit of service was everywhere you looked. Indoors, the gym was transformed into a bustling pop-up salon where volunteer Graci Ellsworth and GHS graduate Labron Hudson spent the entire afternoon giving free haircuts so our scholars could feel confident and ready to shine on day one. Meanwhile, outside on the grounds, Pop Pop’s Ice Cream Truck remained parked on site all afternoon-with the district covering the cost so every scholar received a free treat, totaling 340 ice creams handed out to keep smiles on their faces all day long.
Above all, an event of this magnitude relies on the generosity of local businesses and community organizations that step up to support Gloversville’s youth year after year. The district extends a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for their invaluable contributions:
Miracle-Ear
Euphrates
Walmart Distribution Center (#6096)
First Choice Financial Federal Credit Union
NBT Bank
Target
Alpin Haus
Gloversville Little Huskies
Gloversville Educational Foundation
Street Toyota
Family Counseling Center
Gloversville Police Department - Operation Safe Child
Gloversville Faculty and Staff
"This record-breaking event was a true testament to the heart and strength of our Gloversville community," said Superintendent David Halloran. "When our neighbors, businesses, and staff come together like this to lift up our families, it shows what makes Gloversville so special. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, our Buildings and Grounds crew, our volunteers, and partners like Labron Hudson, Graci Ellsworth, and Pop Pop's Ice Cream. Thanks to everyone's incredible support, our scholars are walking into the new school year confident and ready to succeed."
The success of the 10th Annual Backpack Giveaway was a powerful reminder of what makes Gloversville so special. When our families needed a hand, our neighbors, local businesses, staff, and volunteers didn't hesitate to step up. Thank you to everyone who spent their afternoon with us, donated, or worked behind the scenes to make this record-breaking day possible for our scholars. We will see everyone on September 8th!