There’s something about the start of a school year. New shoes, new notebooks, and that mix of nerves and excitement every kid feels walking through the door on day one. Not every family in Mesa gets to start the year with everything they need, though, and that’s exactly why events like this matter.

This year, Klaus Team Cares was proud to partner for a third year with the Mesa Prevention Alliance for their 6th Annual Back-to-School Event, and we’re still smiling about it.

By the Numbers

The Mesa Prevention Alliance shared the final tally with partners, and it’s worth repeating:

• 1,919 youth and adults served (and those are just the ones that got counted)
• 1,672 backpacks distributed
• 160 free haircuts
• 40 community resource tables

As the Alliance put it, these numbers represent far more than services. They represent children beginning the school year with confidence, families connecting to valuable resources, and a community coming together to support one another.

We couldn’t have said it better.

Busy, Loud, and a Little Chaotic (In the Best Way)

Volunteers gave up their Friday and Saturday to serve Mesa families and support Mesa Public Schools. The Alliance described the day as busy, energetic, and at times a little chaotic, and anyone who’s ever tried to hand out 1,672 backpacks knows that’s putting it gently.

But here’s what stuck with us: through all of it, the room was full of smiles, gratitude, and genuine kindness. Watching parents, guardians, and kids light up was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

Why We Show Up

At Klaus Team, we help people find home. But home is bigger than a house. It’s the school down the street, the neighbors next door, and the community that has your back when things get tight. We live here, we work here, and a lot of us are raising our own kids here. Showing up for Mesa families isn’t a side project for us. It’s the whole point.

Not only did Klaus Team Cares partner financially, but our community and team members donated a huge amount of school supplies and backpacks, especially as a part of the Klaus Team Shred Event this spring, with suggested donations being school supplies or bottled water.

Thank You

A huge thank you to the Mesa Prevention Alliance for continuing to grow this event every single year, not just in backpacks and families served, but in the strength of the partnerships behind it. And thank you to every volunteer, every resource table, and every barber who stood behind the chair all day.

We’re already looking forward to year seven.