Elementary school students show off the new school supplies they received from World Vision volunteers at the beginning of the school year.

Women of Fairfield County, Conn., come together to carry out projects to improve the lives of local children and children in developing countries. Their actions could be the example for a sign at an elementary school in Bridgeport that reads: “I can change the world with my own two hands.” Children at the same school are encouraged to pursue success every day under a poster that urges them to “Dream big. Work hard.”

Each fall, more than 55 million primary and secondary students across the United States head back to school. If you count the 20 million college students starting class, the National Retail Federation estimate U.S. families to spend $75.8 billion on school, an average of $674 per household. That doesn’t count families who can’t afford to send their children to school with ample pens, pencils, rulers, and paper.

Each fall, companies, churches, pro athletes, and groups like Fairfield County’s Women of Vision—a volunteer ministry of World Vision—organize work parties to assemble thousands of Yoobi brand school-supply packs. Children and teachers rely on the donations to make it through the school year. Some manufacturers help World Vision keep its Teacher Resource Centers stocked year-round, too.

Photo©2015 World Vision, Chris Huber