How a back-to-school tradition brings neighbors together and supports local students
On a typical Sunday, the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A Hialeah Westland is quiet. On a recent Sunday in July, the parking lot was buzzing with energy as the community came together to champion kids and local families lined up as early as 7:00 a.m. for a tradition that has become a cornerstone of the neighborhood: the 6th Annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway.
For Owner-Operator Cynthia Bowles, the event hits close to home. As a Hialeah native and the daughter of immigrants, she understands the weight of the back-to-school season for families in her community.
“It’s very meaningful that I get to do this. On a Sunday, we get to fill our restaurant and our drive-thru with families that are just like mine,” said Bowles. “For most of the families here in Hialeah, it’s their first few years in this country, and so these kids are going to school in the US for the first time.”
More Than a Backpack
The 2026 event saw the distribution of 500 backpacks filled with notebooks, paper, rulers and glue sticks to children throughout the community. The initiative has grown from a “small dream” of 100 backpacks in its first year to a massive collaborative effort involving local leadership.
Enrique Santos, who serves as President and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino, has been a partner since the event’s inception. Since he grew up just a few blocks from Chick-fil-A Hialeah Westland, this event is especially meaningful to Santos.
“It’s community. That’s what it’s about,” Santos shared. “It’s great to connect for back to school with all our listeners and see the smiling faces of all the kids… It gets bigger and better every single year, and it’s just amazing.”
A Culture of Service
The event’s success relied on the Hialeah Westland Team Members who volunteered on their Sunday morning to greet families and distribute supplies.
“Working at Chick-fil-A truthfully is more than just selling delicious food; it’s also being a part of the community that you belong to. We have so many schools in the area, and we see the kids every day here at the restaurant, so this is a way for us to say thank you to them.”
– Sophie Avila, a Team Member of over four years
Investing in the Future
Beyond the immediate need for school supplies, the annual event serves as a platform to champion education as a gateway to opportunity.
“Education is what opens doors,” Bowles said. “We’re encouraging [students] to celebrate the fact that they’re going back to school… that’s what’s going to launch them and help them in their future.”
As the backpacks were handed out at Chick-fil-A Hialeah Westland, the excitement of a new school year was paired with a sense of gratitude. Thanks to the generosity of the Hialeah community, students were equipped with the tools they need to thrive this year.
