Fall Donation Drives for School Supplies

With affordability a major concern, many parents are struggling to pay for school supplies at the start of the school year. Estimates for school supplies vary: some put the cost at nearly $900 per child, while others are much higher. According to a new study from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, families could spend nearly $4,000 per child for the 2026–27 school year—10.7% more than last year.

Fortunately, nonprofits and like-minded corporations have stepped in to offer some relief. Here’s a roundup of where parents can find donated supplies for their K-12 kids who are headed back to school this fall.

Supplies from Nonprofits & Corporations

• The Salvation Army: Every year, the Salvation Army, in partnership with Walmart, has its "Stuff the Bus" campaign with a goal of collecting and distributing school supplies at no cost to students in need.

• Kids in Need Foundation (KINF): KINF is dedicated to closing the gap for under-resourced schools in need of tools and supplies for education. By donating backpacks and other resources to schools, this national organization fills an essential need for teachers and schools that require more resources.

• Volunteers of America: Focused on the needs of children in homeless shelters, Volunteers of America presents "Operation Backpack" campaigns to help kids in need be set up for success.

• Office Depot: Office Depot offers a variety of programs to help make the school year more affordable. Its Start Proud program helps assemble and give backpacks to students and it offers a Give Back to Schools credit program.

• Local Drives: Organizations such as United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, local churches, and community centers hold drives to help parents with school supply costs. Go ahead and research the organizations in your community. For example, check out Jersey Cares to learn about its school supplies drive.

  
  

Beyond school supplies, some charities and corporations offer support for teachers, projects, and resources. Here are some examples.

• DonorsChoose: This charitable organization provides an innovative way for donors to choose which school projects they want to support. You can visit the DonorsChoose site, select a program that appeals to you, and choose how much to donate. Donors receive a “thank you” from the teacher leading the project.

• Corporations: Household names like Walmart, Microsoft, Target, Verizon, and State Farm offer scholarships, technology, gift cards, and other means to support families and teachers as kids head back to school. Take a look at some of the opportunities they offer.

  
  

In short, while a new school year can be expensive, there are resources out there that can help a family meet its needs.