Partnership provides 60 free backpacks to EACSD students ...

Thanks to a partnership between Amazon, The Good Life Gallery & Frame Shop on Main Street in Lansing, and the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD), some local students will head back to school with a little extra support this fall. Through coordination by The Good Life Gallery & Frame Shop, Amazon has donated 60 backpacks filled with school supplies for students in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District.

The partnership was coordinated by Lesya Ryzhenkova, owner of The Good Life Gallery & Frame Shop, whose business partners with Amazon on community initiatives. The donation reflects a shared commitment to supporting local students and families as they prepare for the new school year. Each donated backpack includes a pencil case, markers and earbuds, as pictured in the submitted photo below at left.

The backpacks were distributed Tuesday, August 4, during school registration at Kee High School, and were available on a first-come, first-served basis for middle school students and older, while supplies lasted. Pictured in the submitted photo at right, left to right, are Lesya Ryzhenkova of The Good Life Gallery & Frame Shop and Donna Thomas, Principal in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District, displaying some of the donated backpacks.

“This donation is about more than backpacks,” said Ryzhenkova. “It’s about investing in students, supporting families, and demonstrating what can happen when businesses come together to support their communities.”

“From my perspective, it’s all about building community, which is incredibly important for our students,” Principal Thomas said. “It’s wonderful to see both our local community and a company like Amazon supporting our small school district. This partnership will help students who may not otherwise be able to purchase a backpack, ensuring they start the school year with the supplies they need to be successful.”