WESTMINSTER, Vt. – Faith’s Toyota, in partnership with The Salvation Army Northern New England, is proud to be one of 66 TL-MODA dealerships nationwide participating in a coordinated effort to help students start the school year prepared and confident.
Together, Toyota Motor North America, the Toyota Lexus Minority Owners Dealership Association (TL-MODA), The Salvation Army, and other community partners are teaming up to distribute more than 15,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students in need across the country, including 100 backpacks for our local Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU) community.
As part of this effort, 6,550 backpacks are being distributed through TL-MODA dealer partnerships with The Salvation Army, connecting families directly with back-to-school resources in their local communities.
“Every child deserves to start school feeling prepared and confident,” said Maj. Shaun Belanger, divisional commander of The Salvation Army Northern New England. “Thanks to this partnership with Faith’s Toyota and TL-MODA, we’re helping families in our area equip their children for a strong start to the school year.
Backpacks are being distributed to preregistered families and are filled with age-appropriate school supplies, such as pencils, notebooks, and folders, to support students from elementary through high school. In many cases, backpacks also include a $10 Walmart gift card, helping families further offset back-to-school costs.
Volunteers from local TL-MODA dealerships, Toyota, The Salvation Army, and Walmart are working side by side to support packing and distribution efforts, demonstrating the strength of community partnerships in action. From organizing supplies to preparing backpacks for local families, these hands-on efforts ensure every child receives the tools they need to start the school year with confidence
“This activity has allowed us to help the local community, to help those in need, and to boost students to achieve more by giving them the tools they need to be successful,” states Kirsten Mba, Controller, Faith’s Toyota Ford.
Backpack distributions will take place throughout the summer, from June through August 2026, at participating TL-MODA dealerships and Salvation Army locations nationwide.