“How did it go?”
That’s been the question I’ve heard over and over again since Saturday night.

And the honest answer is: It was beautiful.

We laughed. We bowled. We hugged familiar faces and met new ones. And for a couple of hours, we were reminded of what it means to be surrounded by people who care—not just about a good night out, but about something bigger.

Because this wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was a glimpse of community helping community, in real time. It was sports teams and families, local businesses and old friends, all showing up for something simple but powerful: so that our tamariki can show up prepared on Day One.

We collected over 400 pens. We raised enough to support 11 full school kits. But more than that—we made connections. We reminded each other that we’re not doing this alone.

We still have a long way to go before January. It’s hard out there. We feel it personally, we see it in our team, and we see it in the stories that come through our doors every day.

And yet, what Saturday night showed us is this: we still believe in showing up.

That kind of hope? It’s contagious.

When one person brings a few friends, who bring a few more friends—that’s how this grows. It’s how a quiet ripple becomes a movement. That’s how ordinary moments—pens collected, donations made, people gathered—turn into extraordinary dignity for kids.

It only takes one person to say, “Let’s do this.”
That’s how it starts.

Back2School Project has always been about more than backpacks and pencils. It’s about belonging. It’s about everyday action. It’s about making sure that no child feels like they’re starting school “less than” because they didn’t have the tools they needed.

What you’ve done—by showing up, by donating, by cheering us on—is helped send this message:
You are seen. You matter. You belong.