Back To School Donations - Invest In Students Today, Fuel Potential For Tomorrow

Many of us look forward to the time of year when the leaves change colors, pumpkins appear, and the air becomes crisp, but there’s a vitally important event that takes place several weeks before the changing of the seasons.

Personally, I believe this to be a season in and of itself…and an exciting one at that!

The temps are still quite warm, but the morning hours begin to possess a moodiness, often accompanied with excess dew and varying degrees of fog.

Golden yellow school buses once again line the city streets.

Children can be seen dotting subdivision streets, backpacks in tote.

Local stores transform dedicated areas, trading pool floats and summer party supplies for pencils, crayons, glue, paper, calculators, and more.

Whether you have children or not, you know this scene, and you likely recognize this familiar feeling in the air.

In the 1990’s movie “You’ve Got Mail,” Joe Fox shares that New York, in the fall, makes him want to buy school supplies. “...I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

And, while I, obviously, disagree with Mr. Fox on the seasonal timing, if you have children you know how nice it would be to receive such a bouquet!

In fact, a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils takes on a whole new meaning these days, as school supply lists seem to grow longer each year.

It never fails, when I’m in any big box retail store this time of year I hear folks lamenting such lists, but let me assure you as a former educator…these lists are profoundly needed!

Just consider, when your house was being built, would you have been pleased to know that the contractor either omitted crucial supplies or took shortcuts to avoid the use of critical materials?

Of course not!

Education is no different!

As your children, or those in your community and beyond, are heading off to school each year, may you view this season through the following lens:

• Education is vital for success in any society.

• Children learn in a variety of ways, and a well-rounded, thorough, education thus requires a variety of tools, each of which aid instruction, understanding, and learning.

• Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Investments in education are critical to the successful furtherance of any society!

And that’s why we’re inviting you to join us today as we learn of a number of ways you can give back to your community throughout this back-to-school season, investing in students today, fueling their potential for tomorrow!

Back To School Donations And Drives

No matter where you live, someone or someplace in your community is likely accepting donations to help students, parents, and teachers be fully stocked, prepared, and ready to tackle the upcoming school year.

I hope the above introduction to our content today adequately stressed the importance of these commonly requested/needed items for classrooms, but if not, let me reiterate - pens, pencils, paper, and other supplies might not seem monumental, but the items included on countless school supply lists can rightfully be seen as the vehicles which will transport students to a world of knowledge, tools to guide them through their journey on education’s highway.

Unfortunately, there’s a harsh reality that exists below the excitement which commonly surrounds the beginning of every school year.

You see, it’s not all roses…or rather “bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils,” for every student or family in America.

School supply checklists can come with a steep price tag for a number of families. And, some school districts lack the funding to fill in the gaps.

Then, teachers are commonly faced with the reality that they must dig deep into their own pockets to provide materials which will serve to enhance the educational experience they seek to provide for their students.

Thankfully, this is just another area where communities can come together and shine, sharing the burden of many families, teachers, and schools by donating needed items, or the funds to provide these needs, ensuring equal opportunities and success for all students!

So then, how do you donate? Where can you donate?

1- Schools

The easiest place to start, of course, is with your local school system.

If you live in a rural area or a small town, it’s likely there’s only one elementary, middle, and high school in your community. In such cases, you can contact the school directly for ways to contribute.

If there are multiple schools in your town, you may wish to contact any number of schools to find those with the greatest need each year.

2- Library

Your local library is another great place to drop off donations for schools.

Oftentimes, libraries donate books and supplies to schools, and you may even find that they’re in need of funding to carry out these missions as well.

Libraries also commonly have detailed information regarding the needs of all of the schools within a given community.

3- Local Businesses

Many grocery stores, businesses, and other retailers (nationwide) hold drives or collect donations of school supplies for students each year.

And, when we’re talking about businesses that carry such supplies already, there’s really nothing simpler than picking up a variety of items as you shop, then donating them on your way out of the store.

Donating in this way takes very little time and virtually no effort, yet your contribution may mean the difference between success and failure for students.

4- Online Retailers

As if the above method of donation wasn’t easy enough, online retailers have simplified things even further, providing ways to donate for those who would rather avoid the crowds and hustle/bustle of in-store shopping.

Some teachers and school districts have even created wishlists through online retailers allowing others to purchase needed supplies from these lists.

Many people do not realize that teachers commonly stock their classrooms with supplies, pulling from their own funds to do so.

Teachers also routinely purchase items they believe will help enhance learning experiences and opportunities for their students - items which can make learning fun and items which may aid a child’s grasp on multiplication, phonics, or any number of topics/subjects.

If you personally know a teacher or perhaps know of a few in your neighborhood, reach out to them when you’re looking to donate and see if they have an Amazon wish list or something similar so you can make a positive difference in their life and the lives of their students.

5- Charities And Churches

From the United Way to the Salvation Army, from your local church to your local food pantry, many churches and charities (local and/or national) serve their communities by collecting donations for students as they return to school.

Whether you’re able to donate funds or items from school supply checklists, these can go a long way to bridge any existing gaps for students.

6- Other Online Initiatives

Aside from the locations listed above, there are many opportunities to donate to schools online, and we’re not only referring to Amazon wishlists for teachers.

Here’s a list of some online initiatives, sites which help schools and teachers organize efforts to collect needed supplies for students and classrooms.

• Adopt A Classroom https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/

With ‘adopt a classroom,’ donors can search options online and give to a specific classroom, school, or fund. Here, educators can immediately order any items needed once funds are received, and donors can receive updates about their contributions.

• Donors Choose https://www.donorschoose.org/

Donors Choose is an organization which allows donors to choose which teachers they’d like to support based on specific information provided by each educator. The site provides information regarding needed school funds based on your location.

• Digital Wish https://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/home

This organization provides a platform for teachers and school systems to apply for grants when the supplies needed are technology-based.

• Kids In Need Foundation https://www.kinf.org/

With a focus on under-resourced communities, Kids In Need uses donor funding to provide teachers with a semester’s worth of classroom supplies and needs as they submit requests that donors can view, assess, and contribute towards.

• Operation Backpack https://www.voa.org/operation-backpack-2024/

An effort through Volunteers Of America, Operation Backpack provides backpacks and school supplies for children experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other underprivileged circumstances. Afterschool programs and tutoring services are also funded through these efforts.

• Schoolhouse Supplies https://schoolhousesupplies.org/get-involved/donate-supplies

Schoolhouse Supplies collects donations of new or gently used school supplies to provide a free store for teachers, open throughout the school year to provide any needed supplies.

DIY School Supply Drive

What if you find your community to be lacking when it comes to providing needed support for students, teachers, and schools?

It happens.

Perhaps you live in a very small town? Perhaps local businesses or stores where you live simply aren’t aware of how crucial these needs are?

No matter the reason, if you find that your community is in need of donation/drive efforts for school supplies, there’s no reason why you can’t come together with your friends and neighbors to help!

And sure, you can organize a back to school donation drive on your own, but for optimal success, the experts highly recommend making such endeavors a group effort.

So, for starters, get the word out.

Talk to your friends and neighbors and come together to begin planning your school supply drive.

Then, do a little research to find out which school(s) in your community need the most aid.

Talk to administrators and officials to find out what supplies are most needed.

Some schools may simply provide a generic school supply list, and others may be able to give more detailed information for how you can best channel your donation efforts.

Once you have a team, and once you have any needed information from your local school system(s), then you’ll need to come up with a plan.

To effectively serve the schools in your community, consider doing the following:

• Compile a list of needed supplies
• Determine donation drop-off locations and times/dates (common places to consider are community centers, churches, schools, libraries, or places like the Salvation Army or a local YMCA)
• Provide, or ensure each drop off location has, a receptacle to place donated supplies
• Determine whether or not the donated supplies will need to be sorted or prepped in any way
• Consider a deadline for donations, allowing time for the items/supplies to be sorted, then delivered to local schools
• Plan and assign tasks for each team member to ensure your efforts do not overburden one person
• Don’t forget to make flyers, signs, or advertise your efforts on social media or local media outlets with all needed information to promote the drive, making the most of your efforts for the benefit of the students and school districts
• Deliver donations to the promised schools (be sure to be in communication with these places prior to dropping off the collected supplies)

Student School Supply Checklist

We’ve covered why school supply donations are critical to student success.

We’ve covered some ways/places you can donate those supplies.

We’ve even given you some info on how you can begin new school supply collection efforts in your own community.

But, all of that’s for naught if you don’t know which items are most needed.

So, to close things out, we’d like to include an exhaustive list of common school supply needs.

Please keep in mind that we’re covering all the basics here, so you may still need to refer to local lists to find which items are most needed in your community.

However, if you don’t know where to start, this list should definitely get your donation efforts rolling!

Most Requested or Most Common School Supplies

• #2 pencils
• Backpacks
• Colored pencils
• Composition books
• Crayons
• Dry erase markers
• Erasers
• 2 pocket folders
• Glue sticks
• Glue bottles
• Highlighters
• Pens (blue and black)
• Pencil sharpeners
• Permanent markers
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Spiral notebooks
• Washable markers
• Watercolor paints
• Paintbrushes

Additional Items For Elementary Students

*In addition to the items listed above

• Pencil box
• Pencil grips
• Tissues
• Wide ruled, lined paper
• Blunt tipped scissors
• Construction paper
• Lunchbox or tote
• Index cards
• Ruler

Additional Items For Middle And/Or High School Students

*In addition to the items listed above

• Personal organizers/calendars
• 3 ring binders
• 3 hole punch
• Loose leaf paper
• Calculator
• Subject dividers
• Graph paper
• Protractor
• Graphing calculator
• Combination lock

Common Ideas For Classroom Donations

• Seeds
• Puzzles
• Games
• Posters
• Building blocks
• Science lab materials
• Art and craft supplies
• Tape
• Tape dispensers
• Staples
• Stapler
• Paper clips
• Rubberbands
• Page protectors
• Note pads
• Post it notes
• Stickers
• Small toys/prizes (incentives)
• Copy paper
• Cardstock
• Envelopes
• Tissues
• Disinfecting wipes/sprays
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper towels

Thinking Outside The Donation Box

Other than those common items listed above, also consider donations to local charities as students may be in greater need of these items as a new school year begins.

Clothing - Consider donating new or gently used items, and be sure to include items for all occasions (gym clothes, casual/comfortable everyday items, uniform basics, dress items for special occasions).

Shoes - As with clothing, consider donating gym shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes, etc.

Books - Both schools and libraries are commonly in need of books. Consider English copies as well as those written in other languages.

Toys - As a new school year rolls around, don’t forget to donate toys as well. Especially at younger grade levels, play is a valuable form of learning, and toys can be useful here.

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References:

https://familygivingtree.org/our-programs/back-to-school

https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-guides/hold-school-supply-drive.html#

https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc-wm4/news/back-to-school_2014/

https://www.raymondgeddes.com/blogs/news/where-to-donate-school-supplies#

https://www.outofmilk.com/ideas/back-to-school-list/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/tips/a17427/school-shopping-lists/

https://schoolhousesupplies.org/get-involved/donate-supplies

https://www.ymcasuncoast.org/blog/social-responsibility/item/top-ten-most-needed-school-supplied

https://projectbgreen.com/the-10-most-important-school-items-to-donate-this-year/