The bronze Owl gleamed in the August sun as a Temple University Public Safety patrol car sat in Founder’s Garden, trunk wide open and lights flashing. Instead of sirens, the car overflowed with colorful notebooks, pencils, markers and glue sticks—donations from students, staff and community members coming together to help North Philadelphia children start the school year prepared. 

The Pack a Patrol Car school supply drive, held Aug. 4 and Aug. 14, was a collaboration between Temple’s Department of Public Safety, College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and Office of Community Impact and Civic Engagement. Volunteers collected, organized and distributed 100 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to campers at the North Central Community Center. 

“Opportunities like this allow us to come together as faculty, staff, students, administrators and alumni to support our community,” said Juliet Curci, assistant dean of college access and persistence at CEHD. “It reminds us of the family we have at Temple and of our commitment to our neighbors; especially the children, who we want to feel the same love for Temple that we do.” 

Each backpack included notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, highlighters, markers, crayons, glue, tissue boxes and hand sanitizer. During the first phase of the drive, the patrol car parked near the campus’s bronze Owl became a striking symbol of community engagement. Passersby stopped to drop in donations and snap photos of the festive scene. 

By the end of the collection period, the patrol car overflowed with supplies, ready for the second phase: packing and distribution. On Aug. 14, volunteers gathered in the Strategic Marketing and Communications conference room, forming an assembly line to fill backpacks. Once packed, the bags were loaded into a public safety van and escorted by a patrol car to the North Central Community Center’s summer camp. 

Curci said the children’s reactions made every effort worthwhile. One camper clutched a new pack of markers to her chest, grinning. Others flipped through notebooks and folders, already imagining the school year ahead. 

“The best part was seeing the young students receive their new school items and watching their excitement,” said Temple Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety Jenifer Griffin. “It truly warmed our hearts to help them start the academic year on a positive note. We’re also incredibly grateful for the generosity of the community; so many people came out to support this initiative, and we feel truly blessed.” 

Temple leaders aim to make the Pack a Patrol Car drive an annual tradition, reflecting the university’s broader commitment to community engagement. The initiative aligns with President John Fry’s vision of Temple as a “place-based institution,” partnering with neighborhood schools, local families and civic organizations to address shared challenges and promote inclusive social and economic progress. 

“This year’s back-to-school drive is one of the many ways we deepen our connection with North Philadelphia and support the success of our young neighbors,” said Andrea Swan, director of community and neighborhood affairs for the Office of Community Impact and Civic Engagement. “By helping to lessen the financial strain on parents and ensuring students have what they need to thrive in the classroom, we are uplifting our neighborhoods and strengthening the bonds between Temple, local partners and the residents we proudly serve.”