Roughly 10,000 students across Salt Lake and Davis counties will start school with a full backpack after United Way of Salt Lake's Stuff the Bus campaign collected a record 133,000 school supply items on Thursday, Aug. 6. That includes students at Canyons School District Promise Community Schools, where families are navigating a new registration system and potential meal price increases just 11 days before the Aug. 17 first day.

The 16th annual drive, held at the South Salt Lake Community Center, drew more than 300 volunteers who sorted donations and assembled backpacks destined for 42 distribution sites. The haul represents a 38 percent jump from the nearly 96,000 items requested in 2025, according to KUTV.

United Way organizers said demand for supplies has grown sharply this year.

The backpacks will reach students at 24 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools and seven youth-serving organizations. Promise Community Schools in the Canyons, Granite, Davis and Salt Lake City districts are among the recipients, along with nonprofits including Catholic Community Services Refugee Programs. More than 52 businesses hosted supply drives ahead of Thursday's event, and over 200 individual donors contributed.

Why it matters for Draper families

The supplies arrive as Canyons District families face several back-to-school changes at once. Online registration opened Monday, Aug. 3 through a new platform, Skyward Qmlativ, which the district describes as a more modern and intuitive upgrade to its student information system. Families log in through the same Family Access portal used in prior years. Those needing help can call the Canyons Help Desk at 801-826-5544.

Meanwhile, the Canyons Board of Education was considering a proposed increase to school meal prices at its June 2 meeting, citing a 16 percent rise in the consumer price index for food. Under the proposal, elementary lunch would jump from $2 to $2.50 and secondary lunch from $2.25 to $4. Whether the board has approved the increase has not been publicly confirmed.

Even if prices rise, the district's five Title I schools — Copperview, East Midvale, Midvale, Midvalley and Sandy elementary — will continue serving free breakfast and lunch.

According to the district's September 2025 State of the District report, Canyons enrolled about 32,364 students, with 29 percent identified as economically disadvantaged.

The first day of school for Canyons students is Monday, Aug. 17.