Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers Launch Project Backpack to Provide 500 Free School Supply Kits for St. Paul Students

Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers has launched Project Backpack, a community initiative that will provide 500 free backpacks filled with essential school supplies to K-12 students and their families in St. Paul, Minnesota. The distribution event will take place on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the West Minnehaha Rec Center, located at 685 W. Minnehaha Ave.

The initiative directly addresses the significant financial pressure families face during back-to-school season, when the cost of supplies can create substantial economic strain. Each backpack contains grade-appropriate materials including notebooks, folders, pencils, and crayons, ensuring students have the necessary tools for academic success from the first day of school. Backpacks are limited to one per K-12 student and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, though families are encouraged to pre-register online to guarantee availability.

Shawn Wanta, Managing Member of Wanta Thome, emphasized the connection between the firm's professional mission and this community outreach. "As a parent preparing for back-to-school myself, I know the back-to-school season is a mix of excitement and financial stress," Wanta stated. "The cost of supplies adds up quickly, and that pressure is real for so many families. At Wanta Thome, our mission is to restore stability for people who have been wronged in the workplace, and that starts in our own community."

The event represents a meaningful example of how professional service firms can extend their impact beyond traditional client services to address broader community needs. By aligning with the firm's core values of restoring stability and security, Project Backpack demonstrates how legal professionals can contribute to educational equity and family well-being through targeted, practical support.

Beyond the backpack distribution, the event will feature additional community resources, including fresh produce and groceries provided by Feeding Frogtown during their simultaneous food distribution at the same location. This collaborative approach amplifies the event's impact, addressing multiple dimensions of family need during the back-to-school transition period.

The initiative has already generated significant community response, with over 100 students pre-registered for the event prior to the distribution date. This level of engagement underscores the acute need for such support programs and highlights how targeted corporate social responsibility efforts can effectively address specific community challenges while reinforcing organizational values and community connections.