More Than A Backpack: Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom

I’m one of so many parents in our area getting ready to do something both extremely difficult and very exciting: I’m preparing to send two of my kids off to college. We’re getting dorm rooms together, seeing what books they’ll need, and figuring out which classes make the most sense for them. It’s a busy time, but it’s also time to think about the invisible needs that many of us take for granted: a warm bed to rest in at night, a full belly in the morning to power your brain for learning, and the safety and security that allow you to tackle any challenge that comes your way.

During my years leading the United Way of Santa Cruz County, I learned that some of our brightest students were quietly struggling with challenges that had nothing to do with their academic ability. They were figuring out how to eat when meal plans ran out, where to sleep when housing fell through, and how to access healthcare when they got sick—all while trying to focus on their studies.
What’s become clear, both in Santa Cruz and in the Bay Area, is that students cannot succeed when they are worried about their basic needs. The gap between what we expect students to manage and what support systems actually exist is vast and unforgiving. Too many promising futures are derailed by preventable crises.

At United Way Bay Area, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. Moreover, we believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. That’s why I’m especially proud of our SparkPoint™ program, which meets students exactly where they are—literally. The majority of our 25+ SparkPoint™ locations are situated directly on community college campuses across the Bay Area, offering a comprehensive support system that recognizes students as whole human beings with complex needs.

Last year alone, United Way Bay Area worked with 541 individuals and families through SparkPoint™ to navigate financial crises that could have forced them to choose between staying in school and meeting their basic needs. At every college where we’ve obtained data, we’ve found that persistence rates among students enrolled in SparkPoint™ were higher than the college-wide average, meaning that SparkPoint™ counseling makes students more likely to stay in school and earn their degrees.

This work has never been more critical. Just as we’re seeing increased demand for our services, we’re also witnessing the gaps in federal support that will leave more students vulnerable. Programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and other supports that help students focus on their education rather than survival are under threat.

But our community has always risen to meet these challenges. This year, through our annual backpack drive, we plan to distribute over 1,800 backpacks filled with school supplies with the help of 130 corporate volunteers. It’s a tangible reminder that when we mobilize the community and work together, we can ensure students have what they need to succeed. Since 2019, we’ve provided over 7,400 students with essential resources for starting the school year off on the right foot.

United Way Bay Area stands ready to fill these gaps, but we can’t do it alone. We need corporate partners, individual donors, and community members who understand that supporting students is supporting our collective future.
This back-to-school season, I’m asking our community to think beyond backpacks and tuition. Consider the student working two jobs while taking classes, the first-generation college student navigating complicated systems without help, or the young person who aged out of foster care and is trying to achieve stability while pursuing their education. These students have the same dreams and potential as any other—they just need additional support to achieve them.

As we head into this school year, let’s remember that true educational equity means addressing not just academic needs, but the whole person. Because when we support students holistically—with financial coaching, basic needs assistance, and life skills development—we’re not just changing individual lives, we’re strengthening our entire community. Together, united, we thrive.

Keisha Browder
CEO, United Way Bay Area