Does your area have help for back to school supplies and clothes?

**imagine** · 08-05-2011, 12:29 PM

I was wondering what it was like in other places.

I live in a low income area more that 50% of students on free or reduced lunch.Here needy parents can get help with back to school supplies and back to school clothing.

Salvation Army gives elementary students that qualify a free new backpack filled with the school supplies needed for their particular grade and school. They also give out clothing vouchers to buy clothing.

Middle and high school students are given a voucher to buy a pair of athletic type shoes as well as basic school supplies and underwear.

There is also a few churches that do something special for parents and students like provide two complete outfits for each needy child some new clothing and some gently used ( including a brand new pack of underwear and a new pack of socks) for free

Other churches as big garage sales with very cheap prices like 25 cents about this time mainly clothing for students.

So parents could get much of what is needed for free.

What is available in your area?

**pollypurebred39** · 08-05-2011, 12:39 PM

Here the churches provide supplies via donations from the congregations. Our church has a donation table in the church foyer for school supplies. Another church out here runs a thrift store and they provide a clothes pantry for back to school clothing. And a dry cleaner out here accepts Winter jacket donations. Any kid that needs a jacket comes in and can pick one out.

**frugalfranny** · 08-05-2011, 01:02 PM

I am not 'directly connected' but our news is always having
a notice of some sort for free supplies, clothes, backpacks, etc.

They also tell people where to take donations.

We seems to have a lot of help, if people use it.

The 'coat drive' starts a little later.........in Sept. A TV station always runs it every year and some events that take place during the time will let you in free or discounted if you bring in X number of coats. A cleaner volunteers to clean them all up and they let you know via TV when they are ready for pickup.

**flashyMcGee** · 08-05-2011, 01:51 PM

My school is 100% free breakfast & lunch. Students wear uniforms. Some schools have a clothing closet on campus supplied by outgrown uniforms. Last yr. our school received a donation of around 300 school supplied filled backpacks.

Sacred Heart has backpack drives. I think the area big tech companies do a lot of donations too.

**mndtrp** · 08-05-2011, 03:15 PM

My work, my church, and various other entities in the area all have drives for supplies. I believe the thrift stores help with clothing to some. I don't know of anything with the lunches, but there may be a program in place.

My neighbor works for a school, and they sell gift cards to several different places. Those places then, in turn, donate money back to the school. I got one to the grocery store, so I fill up the gift card, and then buy groceries. It's only an extra step or two for me, and it provides money to the school. It looks like some of that money is being used to house international students.

**Nishu** · 08-05-2011, 03:42 PM

I wish I knew because I would like to donate some. We have a back to school thing going on here at one of the bases and they're handing out free school supplies to military families. I thought about grabbing some but we normally don't take the school supply handouts they have during this time of year. On the one hand, I think things are probably meant more for lower ranking families that could really benefit from it, but on the other hand, hey, free stuff!

**angela1435** · 08-05-2011, 03:45 PM

Not sure about the area but we are Navy and every year they have a day where you come and pick out backpacks and school supplies. As much as I complain about my husband being gone they navy definitely has it's perks. They even give out free printers that are donated by lexmark.

**imagine** · 08-05-2011, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

My work, my church, and various other entities in the area all have drives for supplies. I believe the thrift stores help with clothing to some. I don't know of anything with the lunches, but there may be a program in place.

My neighbor works for a school, and they sell gift cards to several different places. Those places then, in turn, donate money back to the school. I got one to the grocery store, so I fill up the gift card, and then buy groceries. It's only an extra step or two for me, and it provides money to the school. It looks like some of that money is being used to house international students.

There is a federal program school lunches that give reduced or free school lunches at school based on family income. Schools are also given extra education money based on the % of students that qualify for free or reduced lunches

Were I live other places also use this criteria for other things like discount or free sports or classes at our local recreation center like the YMCA but not related to them

**imagine** · 08-05-2011, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

I wish I knew because I would like to donate some. We have a back to school thing going on here at one of the bases and they're handing out free school supplies to military families. I thought about grabbing some but we normally don't take the school supply handouts they have during this time of year. On the one hand, I think things are probably meant more for lower ranking families that could really benefit from it, but on the other hand, hey, free stuff!

We normally hear about these things my word of mouth, the local newspaper, and information the schools give out.

**mndtrp** · 08-05-2011, 03:57 PM

Oh, I somehow forgot... One of my ex-coworkers is in a few local bands, and he'll find instruments in pawn shops and the like, repair them, and then give them to low-income kids. I've given him money to help, plus he gets things from other local musicians. He'll also offer free guitar lessons, provided he has the time and the child shows some dedication.

**angela1435** · 08-05-2011, 04:00 PM

Nishu- it is for E-6 and below here. My husband is E-6 so we just make it.

. If it is stuff we won't use I will donate it somewhere else. But most of the time it's stuff we will need.

**krbshappy71** · 08-05-2011, 04:41 PM

Our area has numerous avenues to get assistance with school supplies, here is one of them what a deal!

School supply drive gets under way - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Hope that link works.

This is my first school year in 20 yrs that won't be buying school supplies, Yeeehaaaa to that, my last has graduated!

**jennordhavn** · 08-05-2011, 05:52 PM

None that I know of. But then again, I might not know where to look to get the information.

**shoiji** · 08-05-2011, 06:48 PM

Here there are food pantries, various churches and organizations that collect backpacks and back to school materials for needy students. The city schools that require a uniform has some type of program for students who can not afford them.

There are also coat drives later in the year. Burlington coat factory also lets you donate a coat and you get a coupon for a discount on a new coat.

This area is a mix of low income, middle income, and the wealthy.

**joyofsix** · 08-05-2011, 07:58 PM

Lots, and lots and lots of these here. Backpacks with supplies in 3 places in our little county along with various churches giving away sneakers and jeans. We've never taken any thoughthey've been offered to us. That really upset dh.