Providing Resources and Essentials to Prepare Kids for School
Thank you to everyone who supported our 10th annual event!
We want all kids to have a great start to the school year and reach their fullest potential! We believe, though, that children cannot meet their fullest potential in school if they and their families are struggling with basic needs. This event continues to fill a gap in our community, assisting families with one of the most expensive items for school – sneakers. A well-fitting, proper sneaker not only boosts confidence but also enables children to fully participate in physical education classes and recess. All items we provide focus on kids’ health and overall wellbeing!
- We provided new sneakers, socks, underwear and a toothbrush to 350 kids from grades Pre-K to 12th grade from all school districts of Cortland County.
- We provided an age-appropriate donated book.
- For the 160 families, we provided shampoo/conditioner, soap, toothpaste, a packet of community resource information, and snacks for school, including granola bars, applesauce cups, and cheese crackers.
2025 Event Donors and Sponsors
Thank you for helping give a child a strong start to the school year. While Homer Congregational Church coordinates the event, it truly is a county-wide outreach effort, and we could not host it without the support of the entire community.
- Homer Congregational Church members
- Elks National Foundation and Homer Elks Lodge #2506
- The Brockway Foundation
- Dorthea Fowler & Kimberly A. Allen Fund
- The King’s Daughters
- The Homer Food Pantry (school snacks)
- The Ralph R. Wilkins Foundation
- Rotary Club of Cortland (noon)
- Cortland Rotary Breakfast Club
- Cortland United Presbyterian Church
- Kiwanis Club
- Cortland Area Retired Teachers Association
- Seven Valleys Food Rescue
- SUNY Cortland Memorial Library (books)
- Dr. Matthew Dentes, DDS (toothbrushes)
- Individual donors and sponsors
Registration
Registration for our 2026 event will open on July 1, 2026.
Sponsor a Child
Thank you to everyone who signed up to sponsor children for our 2025 event!
Donate
Want us to do the shopping? Preparing for our event is a year-round process, and we welcome your financial gift at any time! Checks, payable to Homer Congregational Church, can be mailed with “Back to School PREP” in the memo line. Or donate online via Tithely and in the notes section, indicate “Back to School PREP.” Thank you for your support!
Foot Measuring for Sneaker Sizes
We want to help kids get the right size sneaker! We encourage you to visit a local shoe store to have your child’s foot measured – or you can do so at home. If you have the ability to print, you can use the sizing guide below. Or watch the video about how to measure your child’s foot for sneakers with just a piece of paper and a ruler.
