A back-to-school campaign based in Peterborough has surpassed its 2026 goal, providing 310 fully stocked backpacks to children and youth.
Gauvreau Accounting, Tax, Law and Advisory set out to collect 300 backpacks through its fifth annual ‘Gear Up for Good’ campaign, but support from businesses, donors, volunteers and community organizations pushed the final total even higher.
Of the 310 backpacks, 100 will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, 100 to the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation and 10 to Peterborough Youth Services. Another 100 will be distributed through United Way Winnipeg.
“This campaign is a perfect example of what happens when a community decides to show up,” said CEO Robert Gauvreau. “We set a goal of 300 backpacks, and our community didn’t just meet it — they pushed us past it.”
The campaign also expanded beyond traditional school supplies this year.
Partners donated 300 pizza dinners, including 200 for Peterborough families and 100 in Winnipeg. Another 200 Boro gift cards will provide additional support to local families, while participating children will also have access to free back-to-school haircuts.
Community Manager Tiffany Arcari said organizers wanted to help ease some of the financial pressure families can face heading into September.
“We wanted to take some of the pressure off families heading into September and give kids a few extras to help them feel confident and excited about the school year,” Arcari said.
‘Gear Up for Good’ has now distributed more than 900 fully stocked backpacks since the campaign began five years ago.
