Bikers for Backpacks – A Growing Tradition of Support

In 2014, a small group of motorcycle riders came together with a simple question: How can we help working families, especially single parents, manage the rising cost of back-to-school season?

From that conversation, Bikers for Backpacks was born. The group partnered with the First Day Fund – Quad Cities and the Rock Island–Milan School District, collecting school supplies and raising funds to ensure students had what they needed on day one. By 2016 and 2017, the effort expanded into the Mercer County School District, continuing to grow in both reach and impact. Over the years, the initiative has gathered tens of thousands of school supplies and thousands of dollars to support local families.

In 2018, a national motorcycle club stepped in during a difficult moment and formed Bikers 4 Backpacks, strengthening the mission and helping carry it forward. Now, in 2026, through the support of the 1 Marine 1 Life Foundation, the program is expanding once again—this time into the Kewanee and Bureau County School Districts. The spirit of riders helping families continues to spread, proving that a small idea can grow into a powerful community tradition.

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