Pender County Housing Authority Director Brianna Martindale kicked off the inaugural Pack the Future event in 2025, an initiative to provide area students with backpacks filled with school supplies as they return to the classroom.

With the support of Pender County Schools, Martindale created an Amazon wish list where community members could purchase items for elementary school children, including crayons, notebooks, pencils, erasers, glue and more. Residents also had the option to deliver donated items directly to the Housing Authority.

Although there was no set collection goal, the community’s generosity exceeded expectations, filling more than 84 backpacks. On Aug. 12, Martindale delivered the backpacks to Pender County Schools, ensuring students are well-prepared for the year ahead.

“We are so thankful for our community’s generosity in making this first year such a success,” Martindale said. “It’s important to send our students to school fully prepared so they can focus on learning and thriving. With this momentum, we’re already looking forward to setting a goal for next year and reaching even more students.”