Local business partners with United Way to stock backpacks for vulnerable students
Auto Connect Sales is turning its Peterborough lot into a one-day collection point to help students prepare for the coming school year. The dealership, at 1175 Lansdowne Street West, will host a donation event called "Fill the Fords" on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with proceeds directed to United Way Peterborough & District's Backpacks for Success program.
The initiative aims to supply backpacks filled with essential school supplies for children from kindergarten through Grade 12 who face financial barriers. Organizers say the blitz will load two vintage pickup trucks — a restored 1951 Mercury and a 1996 Ford F150 — with donated items that United Way will convert into ready-to-use backpacks for local students.
“We firmly believe that every student, no matter what it is that they’re walking through, deserves to walk into their first day of school feeling prepared, set up for success, and confident.”
Adeline Murphy, campaign officer for United Way Peterborough & District, highlighted how rising costs have made basic school supplies harder for many families to afford. The campaign connects community donors with students who need tangible support to start the school year on equal footing.
- What: Fill the Fords donation blitz
- When: Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Auto Connect Sales, 1175 Lansdowne Street West, Peterborough
- Beneficiary: United Way Peterborough & District — Backpacks for Success
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicles to be filled | Restored 1951 Mercury; 1996 Ford F150; two vintage Ford pickups |
| Target recipients | Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 in Peterborough & district |
| Organizers | Auto Connect Sales and United Way Peterborough & District |
Community groups and businesses are invited to bring supplies during the event hours. United Way’s Backpacks for Success program packages donated items into backpacks that are distributed to students identified as financially vulnerable across the region.
Organizers point to recent national polling that reflects growing financial strain for many Canadians, noting that affordability pressures have increased demand for charitable help with basic school essentials. The Peterborough event is intended as a straightforward, local response — a single-day effort to collect a large quantity of supplies quickly.
Residents who cannot attend the Aug. 8 event should contact United Way Peterborough & District for alternative donation options or drop-off locations. The one-day blitz offers a visible, community-focused way for donors to see their contributions gathered and readied for students ahead of the school year.
