Tennessee Serves provides nearly 13,000 new backpacks to Tennessee students

Today, Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee announced her initiative, Tennessee Serves, provided new backpacks to every student in Tennessee’s distressed counties.

Since 2021, Tennessee Serves has provided more than 32,443 new backpacks to students across Tennessee. This year, 12,711 students in distressed counties received a backpack from the First Lady’s initiative.

“We are honored to provide new backpacks for students across rural Tennessee because every child deserves to start school confident, equipped, and ready to succeed,” said First Lady Maria Lee. “For many families, this program lifts a burden, and for students, it sets the tone for a strong school year ahead. It is my hope that each backpack would serve as a reminder to each student, family, and distressed county that Tennessee sees, supports, and believes in them.”

Students in the following counties received brand-new backpacks from Tennessee Serves:

      – Bledsoe County

      – Cocke County

      – Grundy County

      – Hancock County

      – Hardeman County

      – Haywood County

      – Lake County

      – Oneida County

      – Perry County

      – Scott County

This project is in coordination with Tennessee Serves’ work to ensure Tennesseans are prepared for another successful school year through the August monthly challenge. This year marks the fifth consecutive year Tennessee Serves and Family Resource Centers have partnered to distribute backpacks to students in the state’s economically distressed counties.

First Lady Lee and the Tennessee Serves team joined volunteers and school staff in Grundy County for their Back-to-School Bash. The First Lady helped volunteers distribute backpacks and school supplies to families and students.

“We are so appreciative of the generosity of First Lady Maria Lee and the Tennessee Serves Initiative! Grundy County students will begin the school year with backpacks, school supplies, and more importantly, the confidence to learn and grow,” said Beth Blevins, Public Health Educator with the Grundy County Health Department. “Thanks to Mrs. Lee and her team, Grundy County families have the support they need to succeed!”

Each school district managed distribution of the donated backpacks. For more information on distribution, contact the school district’s Family Resource Center.