Back-to-School Donations: Where to Give Back in Westchester
While you’re getting ready for the back-to-school season, there are many Westchester families in need who don’t have the means to get their kids essentials for the new year. However, throughout Westschester County there are several incredible organizations who are organizing donation drives for supplies, backpacks, and clothing as a way to ensure that all kids have what they need to get off on the right foot in September. Read on to check out where you can donate and give back.
This Port Chester-based non-profit is currently hosting a back-to-school backpack and school supply drive. Through donations, they buy new backpacks and fill them with grade-level school supplies for children in pre- kindergarten through high school. Teachers who participate share the list of supplies and the backpacks go to specific children who need them. Incredibly, they distributed 1,600 backpacks to children in over 30 schools districts last year. To participate, you can donate to support Sharing Shelf. Donations start at $30, which fill a new backpack for one child. Donation requests range and go up to $6,000, which supports 200 children. You can also purchase specific items via their Target registry.
They are also accepting donations at Ethan Allen Hartsdale (152 South Central Avenue, Hartsdale, NY). From now until August 15th, you can drop off new backpacks and school supplies for local children and teens.They need backpacks, three-subject notebooks, binders, filler paper, dividers, composition notebooks, index cards, post-it notes, scientific calculators, graphing calculators, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens, pencils and erasers. Everything dropped off has to be new. For additional information, reach out to [email protected] or call 914-305-5950.
Westchester Jewish Community Services Back-to-School Drive
The WJCS back-to-school drive raises funds to provide new backpacks, school supplies, and gift cards to under-resourced Westchester families. This includes distribution to mental health clinics, early childhood development programs, after-school enrichment programs, digital skill building, and LGBTQ+ youth programs. Children age 11 and under will receive a new backpack (filled with new supplies) and a $25 gift card to purchase any unaccounted for new school year essentials. Children age 12 and older receive a $50 gift card and a new planner. For more information about the WJCS Back-to-School Drive, please contact Alexandra Luciano, [email protected]; (914) 761.0600 x2239.
Erase the Need School Supply Drive from Community Center of Northern Westchester
The Community Center of Northern Westchester is currently accepting donations of school supplies at their Katonah location (84 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY 10536). They are requesting that donations be pre-filled to help support children in need. They are hoping to support 1,800 children through this back-to-school supply drive. The back-to-school donation list is available at the Community Center. Bags are $10-$25 to fill for elementary, middle and high school. Alternatively, you can donate $25 where the center will purchase the supplies for the drive. Donations are accepted from Tuesday-Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday from 10am-1pm.
Supplies For Success: Give Back With A Backpack from the UJA Federation New York
The UJA Federation New York recently hosted an in person back-to-school drive donation but there is still time to donate. Every $27 donation ensures that one child receives a filled backpack with supplies.
This non-profit collections baby essentials, clothing, and more throughout the year. They are currently collecting gently-used and seasonally appropriate clothing, sneakers, boots, and coats to families in need. They also accept donations for baby products, books, and personal care items. Donations should be sorted by size and gender and clearly labelled. The donation cycle is September 15 – April 1 for fall/winter items and April 1 – September 15th for spring/summer. Donations can be dropped at their location (901 North Broadway, Suite 17, North White Plains, NY) from Monday-Friday from 9:00am-7:00pm.
Open Door Family Medical Center
Open Door Family Medical Center, in collaboration with MVP Health Care and United Way of Westchester and Putnam, will be extending its giveaway of school supplies for the entire month of August.
During this time, free backpacks, notebooks, pencils and school supplies will be given to to all schoolchildren who come in for a visit at Open Door health centers during the back-to-school period. This includes Open Door medical and dental sites in Ossining, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Brewster, and school-based health centers in Ossining and Port Chester, and Webutuck.
