This year, GAAR members and community partners once again showed what can happen when our REALTOR® community comes together for local students.
Through the 2026 Backpack Drive, the GAP Committee collected 1,443 new backpacks and raised $1,827.36 to support students served by the Albuquerque Public Schools McKinney-Vento Homeless Program.
The program supports students and families experiencing housing instability throughout APS. For these students, a new backpack is more than a place to carry schoolwork. It is one less thing to worry about as they begin a new school year.
A Community Effort
Donations came in throughout the drive, with 1,087 backpacks collected by August 3, followed by another 308 backpacks on August 12 and 48 more on August 13, bringing the final total to 1,443.
GAAR and the GAP Committee extend a special thank you to our Backpack Donation Partners who helped make this year's drive a success:
- Beverly Hilton
- Ann Marie Salazar
- eXp Realty
- Centric Title & Escrow
- Coldwell Banker Legacy, Academy
- ERA Summit
- Fidelity National Title
- Keller Williams Realty, Academy
- Old Republic Title, Academy
- Realty ONE Group Concierge
- Waterstone Mortgage
- Weichert Image
- Vibrant Corporation
July 31st's G.R.E.A.T. Event was a huge part of the success with all of the donations attendees gave on that one day alone.
Thank you to every member, office, Affiliate, and community partner who purchased backpacks, organized collections, made monetary donations, or helped spread the word.
Together, you helped put 1,443 backpacks into the hands of local students who need them.
The GAP Committee is grateful for another year of incredible support and for a REALTOR® community that continues to show up for Albuquerque.
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