Where To Donate School Supplies in 2024 | An Overview

As your child moves through grade school, they’ll use countless backpacks, calculators, notebooks, binders, pens, art supplies, sporting equipment, and more. Teachers require new supplies each year, so it’s a must that you go back-to-school shopping again. What do you do with last year’s stuff that’s still in decent shape?

Donating to charity is an amazing option because it can help out children and teachers in need, but you’ll need to learn where to donate school supplies and what guidelines to follow.

At Easy Donation Pickup, we support the National Veteran’s Foundation by providing free donation pickups for school supplies and other acceptable items in Los Angeles and Orange County. Below, we discuss the top places to donate school items and the most common guidelines you should keep in mind.

Why Is It Important To Donate School Supplies?

Teachers have strict requirements on the materials students need to have each year. For example, when children reach more advanced math classes, they need a TI-84 graphing calculator that typically costs over $100. Unfortunately, many parents cannot afford to purchase the required essentials for their children, which leaves teachers in a tough position to fill the gap.

In 2021, a National Center for Education Statistics survey found that 94% of public school teachers use personal funds to pay for classroom supplies. These teachers aren’t just buying a few cheap posters, either. Adoptaclassroom.org found that, on average, teachers spent $860 on classroom supplies during the 2022-23 school year.

The majority (84%) of teachers in the survey had to spend their own money to buy things like books, adaptive materials, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment. Teachers are purchasing these items because parents cannot afford to provide their children with the expensive supplies required for school, and school administrations are not paying for necessary classroom materials. By donating school supplies, you can help students access the materials they need while reducing the heavy financial burden that teachers already face.

Where Can You Donate School Supplies?

Now that you know why donations can help teachers and students, let’s look at where to donate school supplies. Here are some of the most popular options:

Local Schools and School Districts

First, you can donate directly to your school or other schools in your area. You can purchase new supplies and drop them off or donate lightly used ones.

Before doing so, you should contact the school to ask what items they need. Doing so is a recommended practice for all donations, as you don’t want to drop items off unexpectedly. The school may have an overflow of specific items, like notebooks, but a shortage of calculators.

Churches

Churches typically collect donations throughout the year. One of your local churches likely already has an active school supply drive that you can donate to. If not, the church may still accept your donation or offer advice on where to take your items.

Libraries

Libraries often work with schools to supply them with extra books or funding. You can support your local library’s cause by donating old books or school-related resources. If you don’t have physical resources but still want to help, consider offering tutoring at the library to children in the community.

Homeless Shelters and Foster Care

By donating school supplies to homeless shelters, you can help out residents of the shelter who are still in school. If you’d like to contribute to this population more directly, we recommend donating to School on Wheels, which specifically helps homeless children attending schools in the U.S.

You can also donate your school supplies to local foster children by selecting an organization in your area that distributes items accordingly. For example, Kid Crossing accepts gifts for foster children in need.

Back-to-School Drives and Campaigns

Donating to school supply drives is a simple way to give your items directly to the source. Schools often run back-to-school campaigns at the start of each school year with various school supply drop-off points, so you can easily give away items. Be sure to review the instructions in advance so you know where to donate school supplies and how to provide helpful donations.

Which Nonprofit Organizations Accept School Supply Donations?

You don’t have to donate items to school supply donation locations. You may also support charities accepting school supply donations to expand your reach to a wider network beyond your community. Here are a few nonprofit organizations and charities that accept school supplies:

• Compudopt: Collects and refurbishes gently used computers and other tech equipment for children in need
• Computers with Causes: Provides refurbished computers to low-income families
• Kids In Need Foundation: Offers school supplies and teaching lessons to teachers and students at underserved schools
• Leveling the Playing Field: Collects and distributes gently used sporting equipment for children in need
• Operation Backpack: Gives backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need
• United Way: Accepts numerous school supplies, depending on the community, then distributes items to children in the area
• World Computer Exchange: Provides refurbished computers and other digital equipment to children in over 50 developing countries
• Pencils of Promise: Distributes school supplies and offers educational resources to children in developing areas
• Classroom Central: Provides children and families with necessary school supplies for the upcoming year
• School on Wheels: Supports homeless children in the schooling system
• Share the Warmth: Fights poverty and hunger by collecting school supplies and other necessary items

Each of these organizations collects different items and may accept monetary donations. You can learn more by visiting their websites or calling to determine how you can contribute.

How Can You Find Online Platforms for Supporting Education?

If you want to skip the hassle of finding physical locations for school supply contributions, you may also be able to find an online platform that supports local teachers and students. We recommend finding an organization that accepts monetary donations for school-related efforts or a reliable online platform that facilitates educational contributions, which we’ll discuss next.

Are There Reliable Online Platforms Facilitating Educational Contributions?

Yes, a few reliable online platforms offer a great space for facilitating educational contributions; you just need to know where to look. Here are our top recommendations:

• ClassWish: An online platform where teachers can make lists of the specific school supplies they need so donors can contribute in an impactful way
• Digital Wish: An application that allows teachers or schools to apply for technology grants to fund expensive computers or other digital devices that students need
• Adoptaclassroom.org: A fund-raising platform that allows teachers to obtain funds for their supplies as donors “adopt” teachers or schools

What School Supplies Are Commonly Needed?

Students and teachers need far more supplies than people often realize for effective learning, collaboration, and growth. Here are some of the most commonly requested school supplies:

• Art supplies
• Backpacks
• Calculators
• Hygiene or cleaning products
• Sporting equipment
• Notebooks
• Writing instruments
• Office supplies
• Books
• Classroom materials
• Lab equipment
• Computers and other tech equipment

What Guidelines Should I Follow for Effective School Supply Donations?

The most important guideline for effective donations is adhering to the organization’s or location’s guidelines on acceptable items. Not every charity needs every school supply. You should contact the organization before dropping anything off to ensure you only donate items the organization needs.

Are School Supply Donations Tax Deductible?

School supply donations may be tax deductible, depending on the organization you choose to donate to, as school supplies typically fall within the charitable goods category with the IRS. We recommend checking with the organization in advance and requesting all necessary forms so you can deduct the donation when doing your taxes.

Now that you know where to donate school supplies, you can begin giving back to students in your community. If you don’t have time to drive to a location in your area, schedule a free donation pickup from Easy Donation Pickup today. Your community thanks you.