Z95.5 Backpack Drop Campaign Provides 300 Backpacks to Local Students for the 2026 School Year

CORTLAND & ITHACA, NY — Last week, Z95.5 wrapped up another successful Backpack Drop Campaign, helping local students and families prepare for the upcoming school year with free backpacks and school supplies.

Each August, Z95.5 partners with generous local sponsors to provide backpacks and school supplies to area families. This year, the campaign featured three community drop-off events held throughout Cortland and Tompkins County.

The 2026 Z95.5 Beginnings Backpack Drop Campaign kicked off Wednesday, August 26th, at Beginnings Credit Union’s Cortland Route 281 location, followed by a second stop Thursday, August 27th, at Beginnings Credit Union’s East Hill Ithaca location. The campaign concluded Friday, August 28th, at the YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County.

Thanks to the incredible support of this year’s sponsors, Z95.5 was able to provide 300 backpacks filled with school supplies for local children.

Community Sponsors that Make the Campaign Possible

Beginnings Credit Union, the campaign’s Title Sponsor, contributed $500 that was used to purchase essential school supplies, including:

• 300 notebooks
• 300 folders
• 300 pens
• 300 boxes of crayons
• 300 dry erase markers

Beginnings Credit Union also donated branded hand sanitizers, stress balls, and pens to include in the backpacks.

Cayuga Health, the Backpack Sponsor, contributed 300 branded backpacks.

United Way of Tompkins County donated 300 glue sticks, 300 pencils, and 300 United Way flyers/inserts for the backpacks, as well as more than 100 packs of ladies’ socks for families in the community.

Twin Sheep Dentistry contributed 300 dental kits.

Ehrhart Energy donated branded pencils, ChapStick, pens, bracelets, and magnetic chip-bag clips to add a little extra fun to each backpack.

Ithaca Papa John’s helped keep families fueled throughout the events by donating five pizzas at each location, along with paper plates, napkins, and flyers.

The Backpack Drop Campaign also featured a treasure chest filled with prizes for children. Each child was allowed to select one prize, with options including toys, Play-Doh, Wendy’s Frosty certificates, extra school supplies, and other fun surprises.

Additionally, Z95.5 gave away children’s Cornell t-shirts, Finger Lakes Favorites magazines, and tickets to the New York State Fair.

Z95.5 extends a special thank-you to Beginnings Credit Union, Cayuga Health, United Way of Tompkins County, Twin Sheep Dentistry, Ehrhart Energy, Papa Johns, the YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County, and everyone who helped make the 2026 campaign a success.