Thursday, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall joined community volunteers at Harvest Bible Chapel in Barrie to begin the 15th annual PIE Education backpack campaign, which sent 8,600 backpacks across the province.
The backpacks, filled with school supplies, were sent to children in need in Barrie and across Ontario. In the campaign's inaugural year, 800 were sent across Barrie. This year the campaign supports children in subsidized housing in Barrie, Toronto, Sudbury, Brantford, Newmarket, Woodstock, Ottawa, and more.
“With the rising cost of living, many families are struggling to afford basic school supplies,” said co-founder of PIE Education Alex Nuttall. “This campaign is about giving every child the chance to
succeed. We’re proud to work alongside our partners and volunteers to make sure no student is left behind.”
The initiative is made possible through partnerships with the John Tavares Foundation and
Progress for Mental Health, teh Canadian Centre for Mental Health, and other to help ensure students are equipped to start the school year with confidence.
2025 marks the 15th year of the PIE Education backpack campaign, inspired by Nuttall’s own experience growing up in government-subsidized housing.
It took 70 volunteers over one week to pack 8,600 backpacks.
