2026 Backpack Drive

The Karsh Center’s 2026 Backpack Drive and Distribution will once again offer children in our community a way to feel ready and excited for a new school year–many for the first time. We can’t have a backpack distribution without the backpacks, and that’s where we need your help!

This June 8 – July 13,

the Karsh Center is hosting a backpack drive for new backpacks for 300 students in the community.

Thank you for helping some of the youngest members of our community have a strong start to their educational journey!

How to Support the Backpack Drive

Purchase from the Giftwhale Wishlist

Purchase one of our requested backpacks directly from our Giftwhale Wishlist. You will need to enter the address to send your selected backpack as part of your purchase. Please use: Backpack Drive, c/0 Karsh West, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049.

If you would like a gift receipt/tax acknowledgment for your donation, when purchasing, select the option to include a gift message. In the gift message, please include the donor’s full name, address, phone number, and email address.

Giftwhale Wishlist

Purchase from the Amazon Wishlist

Purchase one of our requested backpacks directly from our Amazon Wishlist.

If you would like a gift receipt/tax acknowledgment for your donation, when purchasing, select the option to include a gift message. In the gift message, please include the donor’s full name, address, phone number, and email address.

Amazon Wishlist

Pick your own Backpack

Purchase a new backpack on your own, and mail it* to Karsh West (11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049) or email haley@karshcenter.org to schedule a drop-off at either Karsh Center in Koreatown or Karsh West in Brentwood.

We specifically need backpacks for students ages 4 – 17 years old. This includes the following sizes:

  • Toddler/PreK (10″-13″) 
  • Small (14″-15″) 
  • Medium (15″-16″) 
  • Large (17″19″)

*If you are mailing a backpack and would like a gift receipt/tax acknowledgment for your donation, please include a note in your package including the donor’s name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

Drop Off Instructions

  • For security purposes, all donations must be dropped via appointment. Please contact Haley Weske, haley@karshcenter.org, to schedule your drop off at either the Karsh Center in Koreatown or Karsh West in Brentwood.

  • If you would like a tax receipt, please complete the  in-kind donation Google form upon drop off.

  • We will pack these full of other goodies for students as part of this program, so please do not include any other school supply items inside the bags. If you are interested in donating other new school supplies, we will happily accept those donations in a separate bag!

Important Information about Substantiations of Charitable Contributions

In order to receive a thank-you note or tax receipt for an item purchased online and delivered directly to us, please make sure to fill out your contact information, including your name and email address, on the gift receipt for your donated backpack(s).

If you are planning to drop off a backpack directly to us at the Karsh Center, please complete this in-kind donation form upon dropoff.

Substantiations of charitable contribution will be sent at the conclusion of the drive.

If you have any questions, please contact our Development Associate, Haley Weske, at haley@karshcenter.org for more details.