#WhatDoWeTellTheKids: The question that started it all
Since 2016, we've been asking one honest question and building a community around it — through rallies, school partnerships, and real conversations in Boston and beyond.
Over 10,000 backpacks packed by volunteers like you
We've hosted rallies, school drives, and community packing events all across Boston. Every pair of hands makes a difference.
Bag drop rallies
Join us for our signature bag drop rallies where we hand out fully-packed backpacks directly to kids who need them, right here in the US.
School partnerships
We work with partner charities and local schools on special projects that go beyond supplies — creating conversations, not just donations.
That familiar zipper sound? It means a kid starts school ready.
Your gift goes directly to packing backpacks with supplies kids in Boston and across the US actually need.
The truth about what your donation actually does
We get honest questions all the time. Here are real answers.
Does my whole donation go to the backpacks?
We keep our overhead low so the majority of every dollar funds backpacks and rally events. We don't take a cut off the top for marketing or fancy offices.
How do you pick which kids get the backpacks?
We partner with local schools and charities in the US who know the families best. They tell us who needs a backpack, and we show up with a rally to deliver them.
Is Common Goods a nonprofit?
We are a for-profit company, but giving back is built into our business model. Every purchase funds our giving initiatives. We are not a charity — we just use business the way it should be used.
What does #WhatDoWeTellTheKids actually do?
It is a conversation starter, not a lecture. We host rallies, run school workshops, and create tools for families to talk about social justice. Real dialogue, not a hashtag.
Can I donate items instead of money?
Right now we focus on funding backpack drops and activations. Cash lets us buy exactly what kids need, in bulk, at a better price. But reach out — we often have special projects where donated supplies help.
Still have questions?
We are happy to talk. Ask us anything about where your money goes or how to get involved.
Hear what this means in real life
When our school partnered with Common Goods for a bag drop rally, we saw what it looks like when a company actually shows up. Every backpack was packed with care, and the kids felt seen.
Maria Santos
Principal, Dorchester Elementary
I bought a State bag because it's beautiful. I keep buying them because every purchase sends a backpack to a kid in the US. That's a transaction I feel good about.
Jason Park
Customer since 2023
The #WhatDoWeTellTheKids conversation gave my family language we didn't have. It's not easy to talk about hard things, but Common Goods made it a conversation, not a lecture.
Aisha Williams
Parent and activist
We volunteered at a rally and handed out backpacks to families who needed them. Seeing a kid open a brand new backpack, knowing it came from another kid's choice to buy a bag — that changed me.
Tom O'Brien
Volunteer, Boston