This might make a good lunch tote or pencil and supply bag for someone in need.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you’re like me you’ve accumulated a mountain of assorted bags and packs after years of cycling: I’ve got different bags for commuting and grocery runs, bikecamping adventures, working remotely, shooting photos, race weekends — and then there’s all the swag I’ve collected from industry events and conferences. The list goes on!

Now there’s something productive I can do with bags I don’t need anymore.

Portland-based North St. Bags has partnered with Schoolhouse Supplies for a donation drive that will benefit low-income students as they prep for the school year. North St. Bags is a Portland business success story and their panniers have become nearly ubiquitous in local bikeways. Schoolhouse Supplies is a nonprofit that supports public school students by giving them free pencils, pens, notebooks, bags, and other things they need to learn.

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To help reach more kids, North St. Bags will host bag donation drives on two weekends — July 19th through 21st and August 2nd through 4th — at their headquarters on the corner of Southeast Hawthorne and Poplar (1551 SE Poplar Ave). Just show up and drop off your gently-used (leave the badly stained and strained ones at home) bags, backpacks and panniers and North St. will box them up and take them to Schoolhouse Supplies.

Besides being a prime opportunity to give back to the community, the bag drive is also a great chance to pick up a new bag at a discounted price: Each person who donates a backpack or bag will receive a coupon for 15% off any North St. Bag, valid through the end of August. North St. Bags will also donate 10% of all online and in-store sales between July 19th and August 2nd to Schoolhouse Supplies.

Don’t be too cool for school. Grab a few of your old bags and schlep them over to North St. Bags this weekend (or next). Check out the Facebook event link for more info.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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