Students at Springbrook Elementary will be starting the school year ready to learn and fully equipped, thanks to a generous donation from Costco Logistics in Kent. The company donated 384 brand-new backpacks—more than enough to ensure that every student at the school receives one.
The donation is part of Costco’s ongoing community outreach efforts, which focus on supporting schools where 50% or more of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Springbrook Elementary met that requirement, making them eligible for the program.
“We’re able to give back to schools by donating backpacks—and even including some starter supplies,” said Kelly, a manager at Costco Logistics in Kent. “It helps students feel good about starting their first day. We're proud to be part of the community, grateful for the opportunity to give back, and happy to do this with the school each year.”
Kelly emphasized the impact on both students and staff: “I know it makes both the teachers and students happy. We’re just grateful to be able to give back—it’s a win for everyone. It’s really special that we can do this, and we appreciate the chance to be out in the community and connect with everyone.”
Springbrook Elementary Principal Arneidra Lloyd shared her excitement and gratitude for the support noting the timing couldn’t be better.
“This year, all students in the Kent School District will receive school supplies, so this is beautiful,” she said. “We will give this out to our students during our meet-and-greet—what we call our Ice Cream Social—where families come to meet their teachers. This way, we can make sure every single student has a backpack this year.”
Arneidra noted the generosity of the donation, which goes beyond just the numbers. “They provided 384 backpacks, and right now we're sitting somewhere around 364 students. So we will have enough for every student—and then some.”
Beyond meeting practical needs, the backpacks will support the school’s ongoing positive behavior celebrations. “Costco doesn’t know it,” Arneidra said with a smile, “but we go there every month to get supplies for our ‘Party with the Principal.’ We celebrate students for being safe, being kind, and being learners. We talk about probability and make it fun. And now, with these cool new backpacks, students have something they can be proud of.”
Arneidra emphasized the school’s priority—after safety—is making sure learning is fun and accessible to every student. “We want students to focus on being kids and learning—not worrying about whether they have the supplies they need. That’s our whole goal. So we are grateful for the donation from Costco, and we’re grateful for the continued support.”
Thanks to the partnership between Costco and Springbrook Elementary, hundreds of students will walk through the doors this fall with confidence—and a brand-new backpack on their shoulders.