The Waterloo Regional Police Service just got a big boost from Police Foundations (Fast Track) students at St. Clair College's Chatham Campus.
The police service annually hosts a Backpack Challenge, where it encourages businesses and residents to purchase new backpacks, lunch bags, school supplies and gift cards to be donated to children and families in need.
St. Clair College Police Foundations (Fast Track) students are joined by members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service at Chatham Campus for the Backpack Challenge donation in July 2025. (Scott Braun/St. Clair College)
This year, Police Foundations students in Chatham stepped up and donated to the cause, which, since its launch, has gathered 22,500 backpacks, along with tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards and school supplies.
"Every donation helps us get closer to our goal of raising 5,000 backpacks this year. We are so grateful to the students from St. Clair College who recognized the need for backpacks and volunteered their time and money to support this incredible campaign," said Cherri Greeno, the director of corporate affairs at the Waterloo Regional Police Service. "Their generosity means kids will head back to school feeling confident, proud, and excited and will set them up for a very successful year of learning and growing."
The collected items are donated directly to families and more than 25 child and youth organizations throughout Waterloo Region to ensure they have an exciting back-to-school experience and are prepared for the year ahead.
"WRPS may run this program, but it's the community who steps up and makes it such a success every year," Greeno said. "We are so very grateful to be part of an initiative that puts smiles on so many kids' faces."
It's a giving lesson instilled in students as part of their studies at St. Clair College.
"During their time in the Police Foundations program, our students are provided with numerous opportunities to work in partnership with citizens and local police officers on various initiatives," said Scott Braun, an instructor in Police Foundations and Border Services. "These experiences reinforce the importance of working collaboratively with the community to prevent crime and improve public safety by building relationships with the diverse population that they will serve in their future law enforcement careers."
It's not too late to donate, as Waterloo Police are still collecting backpacks and other school supplies. Click here to link to the donations page.
Waterloo Regional Police Service Officers accept donations as part of its Backpack Challenge in July 2025. (Source: Waterloo Regional Police Service)
