Louisville nonprofit hands out 500 ready-to-go backpacks to support homeless community

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As a senior at St. Xavier High School last year, DyLon Boone started an organization to honor his mother and on Saturday, other students carried on that legacy.

Boone’s mother, Terra, died suddenly in January 2024. Since then, he has established the organization “Touch of Terra,” which assembles 500 ready-to-go backpacks for people experiencing homelessness in Louisville.

Volunteers distributed the backpacks Saturday at the St. John Center and on the streets. The bags contained toiletries such as toilet paper, underwear, first aid kits and snacks.

“That is sort of what our mission is turning into now — getting more students and young people involved in issues such as homelessness,” Boone said. “We are also working with children in foster care and providing backpacks to help them.”

More than 100 people participated this year by helping pack and distribute the backpacks.