Mission StatementAt Packs With Purpose, we believe that every child deserves an equal chance to succeed in school. Our mission is to support students by providing the resources they need, thereby reducing challenges to education and ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Who we are
About Us
Packs With Purpose is a student-led organization dedicated to helping students overcome barriers to education by providing the essentials they need to succeed in the classroom. We believe that no student should lack basic necessities, including, but not limited to, clothing, school supplies, and hygiene products.
Founded with a goal of removing barriers, our organization works with schools in underserved communities, social workers, and the community to help identify students who lack the necessities for success in school. We also directly work with families who reach out. As an organization, we can help these students through public drives, donations, and community partnerships. These three efforts can help us create a future in which children come to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
At Packs With Purpose, we know that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in a child's education and future.
Our Story
Packs With Purpose started with one school, one need, and one question: how can students focus on learning if they do not have the basic essentials they need to get through the school day?
After learning more about schools with fewer resources in the Tampa Bay community, the founders realized that many students were facing challenges that often go unseen. Some students needed uniforms. Others needed school supplies, snacks, or food to take home for the weekend. These were not extra items. They were essentials that helped students feel prepared, comfortable, cared for and ready to learn.
The organization began by helping one school. Through small drives, donations, and conversations with school staff and social workers, Packs With Purpose started collecting the items students needed most. What began as a simple effort slowly grew as more people learned about the mission and wanted to help.
Packs With Purpose is built on the belief that small acts of support can make a real difference in a student’s life. A backpack, a snack, a clean uniform, or a bag of weekend food may seem simple, but for a child, it can mean walking into school with more confidence and ready to learn.
Today, Packs With Purpose is continuing to grow by connecting with more schools, donors, and community partners. Its goal is to expand beyond a few schools and reach more students across the community, helping every child feel prepared, supported, and ready to learn.
Our
People
Sahana Parekh
PresidentFounder and President of Packs With Purpose. She started the organization after realizing that not all students have access to the same resources, support, and essentials needed to feel prepared for school. After learning more about under-resourced schools in the Tampa Bay community, Sahana wanted to act and create a way to help students feel more confident, supported, and ready to learn.
As Founder and President, Sahana helps lead Packs With Purpose by organizing drives, communicating with schools and social workers, collecting donations, coordinating projects, and building community partnerships. What began as a small effort to support one school has slowly grown into a larger mission to reach more students and provide them with the resources they need.
Outside of Packs With Purpose, Sahana is interested in medicine and hopes to become a doctor in the future. She enjoys finding ways to help others and hopes to continue making a positive impact both through her work with Packs With Purpose and in her future career.
Vide PresidentTej Patel
Tej is a 9th-grade student and the Vice President of Packs With Purpose. He joined the organization because he wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to his community and help make a difference for students who may not have access to the same resources and opportunities.
As Vice President, Tej helps support the organization’s projects, planning, and outreach. He believes strongly in the importance of education and enjoys being part of efforts that help students feel more supported and prepared to succeed.
Outside of Packs With Purpose, Tej enjoys staying active. He practices competitive fencing and enjoys playing hockey with his brother. He brings the same focus, teamwork, and dedication he uses in sports to his work with Packs With Purpose.
Contact us
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