Fairfax County, Virginia, is one of the five wealthiest counties in the country – and yet, one in fourteen children lives in poverty.
Brightpaths
Fairfax County organizations, businesses and agencies are host to numerous opportunities for community members to donate back to school supplies. Here are several back to school donation drives you can participate in today! There are a variety of ways you can support these efforts, some offer online donation options, where you can support right from home, others provide the chance to shop for specific items and donate to collection spots, and one offers volunteer opportunities.
United Community
Back to School Drive 2023
Extended through August 31st
This year, United Community has a goal of supplying 900 children with backpacks and school supplies.
We need your help to ensure our local children return to school prepared and well equipped!
How can you help?
Make a donation online or donate gift cards, backpacks and schools supplies:
Gift Cards: $25 gift cards from Walmart or Target
New Backpacks: elementary, middle and high school age appropriate; large enough to accommodate pocket folders, notebooks, and pencil boxes; no wheels; no corporate branding
New School Supplies: download the flyer for a complete list of suggested supplies
Apple Federal Credit Union
Collect for Kids School Supply Drive
Now through August 31st
Apple FCU headquarters are in Fairfax County, and they have a long history of community involvement and volunteerism. Their 2023 Collect for Kids School Supply Drive is underway!
To donate, bring supplies to any location and look for collection bin in the lobby. If you would like to make a monetary donation, talk to a AFCU staff member.
The most needed items for students this year include:
- Colored Pencils
- Erasers
- Crayons
- #2 Pencils
- Highlighters
- Soft Sided Pencil Pouches
- Scissors
- 3-Ring Binders
- Sticky Notes
- Glue Sticks
Britepaths
Back To School Program
Now through September 30th
The local nonprofit organization Britepaths builds resilience through financial empowerment, workforce development and family support. Every year, their Back to School program works with a local school supply wholesaler Campus Survival Kits, whose non-profit rate allows them to purchase high quality items at greatly reduced costs. This allows them to serve more students than donations of traditionally sourced supplies from big box or online retailers. And, their pre-packaged kits ensure that the items included fulfill the lists developed for each school and grade level.
With your support, Britepaths will purchase the backpacks and supply kits and have them delivered directly to the schools. Social workers will distribute supplies to students in August, before the start of the school year, so they will be equipped with what they need for their first day!
School supported:
Bailey’s Upper ES
Daniels Run ES
Eagle View ES
Fairfax HS
Fairfax Adult HS
Glen Forest ES
Justice HS
Lewis HS
Providence ES
Willow Springs ES
This program also offers the option to sponsor a school or sponsor a number of students. Donate today to support this long standing program!
Assistance League of Northern Virginia
Back to School Books & Toiletries Drive
Assistance League of Northern Virginia has been serving students at Title 1 elementary schools and their families for more than 20 years. We are part of a nationwide organization that’s been around for more than a century. Each of the 120 Assistance League chapters will participate in a unified effort during the back-to-school season to raise public awareness about our organization and seek support from businesses and individuals in securing some of the essentials that we provide to students.
One way we hope to involve our friends and recruit new partners to help with the growing needs in our community is by asking for donations, either by purchasing books and toiletries from our wish list on RightGift or with a monetary contribution. Our friends, sponsors, and businesses can choose the new books and toiletries they prefer and know that we will use those times in the coming school year for our Literacy and Toiletries programs. We also welcome monetary donations, which can be made by credit card from our website.
Educate Fairfax
Collect for Kids
Now through September 30th
Educate Fairfax is a 501 (c)3 non profit that works to make a positive difference in the lives of FCPS students and our community. 100% of funds raised go directly to support students, schools and programs within FCPS.
Each summer, Educate Fairfax conducts an annual giving campaign called Collect for Kids. Funds raised through this effort help purchase school supplies for newcomers to FCPS who are economically disadvantaged or recently displaced, as well the nearly 60,000 students who live in poverty.
A donation of just $10 provides these students with the essential tools they need to be successful.
FCPS Homeless Liaison Office
Gift Card Project
More than 2,300 homeless children are enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. Gift cards are needed by the Homeless Liaison Office to ensure FCPS students start the school year with the supplies they need to succeed.
Purchase as many gift cards as you like, in any amount. (Be sure to mark the value on the back of the card.) All cards should be sent to Homeless Liaison Office, Gatehouse Administration Center, Room 4738, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Gift cards from grocery stores, Target, Walmart and Kmart, or other large department stores are suggested.
Updated 8/15/23
The following drives have ended for 2023, but read on to learn more about these organizations and their work, and make a plan to support their drives for next school year:
Founders Row
Back to School Supplies Drive
Thursday, August 10, 5pm-7pm
Help DC Fray and Founders Row pack the backpack and stock the lockers this school year on Thursday, August 10. You can earn one raffle entry for every three items you donate and enjoy lawn games, free snacks and Lost Boy Cider tastings. Plus, meet with local schools and children’s foundations to get involved.
Pencil us into your schedule to make a difference for underprivileged youth and have some fun while doing it!
Fairfax Bar Association Paralegal Section
Back to School Drive
Donate online through August 11th
The Fairfax Law Foundation is the 501 (c)(3) sister organization to the Fairfax Bar. Since its founding in 1982, the Fairfax Law Foundation has proven itself to be both an exemplary and necessary non-profit organization in Northern Virginia, providing Fairfax County residents with direct access to the legal community. Through both educational and charitable activities, the Fairfax Law Foundation remains true to its motto of “Equal Justice For All.”
Their 2023 Back to School Drive beneficiary is FACETS.
Nurturing Families
3rd Annual School Supply Drive
July 14- August 11
We are once again asking our AMAZING group of donors to make sure that the students start school with the supplies they need! Please join us in supporting them so they will start the year ready to learn! Thank you for any contribution you can make!
This year there are 3 ways to give!
Purchase supplies from our wish list and drop them off at our collection sites: Fairfax Church and Burke Centre Conservancy, purchase bulk supplies at a deep discount from our on-line wish list with Campus Survival Kits, or donate funds for us to purchase the bulk supplies!
Here are the items being requested by schools:
24 ct. Crayola Crayons
5” Scissors blunt
5” Scissors pointed
Pink erasers
Composition books,
wide rule
Dry erase markers,
2-pocket folders paper
2-pocket folders poly
Elmers Glue sticks .21 oz.
Elmers Glue sticks .77 oz.
10 ct. Markers, broad tip
12 ct. #2 pencils, sharpened
12 ct. colored pencils
FACETS
School Supplies Drive
June 22nd- August 7th
As pandemic-era assistance ends, and the cost of basic necessities continues to rise, families across Fairfax County are struggling to make ends meet. That’s why FACETS needs YOU to help us distribute over 500 backpacks to kids in the greatest need. Helping offset the stress of affording back-to-school necessities ensures that the kids we serve can start the academic year on the right foot.
Together, we can help to ease the financial back-to-school burden faced by our families and provide the children with the supplies they need to create stronger futures.
1. Make a Financial Donation: Make a tax-deductible donation to FACETS, and we’ll do the shopping for you! You can make a financial donation online by clicking HERE (please indicate Back to School drive in the Special Instructions field) or send a check to our main office (10700 Page Avenue, Building B, Fairfax, VA 22030) and write “school supplies” in the memo section.
2. Deliver Supplies to FACETS: Download the list of needed school supplies by clicking HERE and purchase or collect as many of these items as you can. Supplies can be dropped off at our main office: 10700 Page Avenue, Building B, Fairfax, VA 22030, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 3PM.
3. Purchase through Amazon: Check out FACETS School Wish List on Amazon by clicking HERE. And, when you buy from Amazon Smile and select FACETS Cares as your charity of choice, a percentage of your purchase price goes back to support the children, families and individuals served by FACETS’ programs.
Most Needed Items:
- Target and Walmart Gift Cards
- Backpacks
- White Boards
If you have any questions, or if would like to organize a school supply collection, please contact Tessa at trobinette@facetscares.org or (703) 352-3268.
Lorton Community Action Center
Back to School Drive
Sunday, August 6th
LCAC will be collecting backpacks and supplies for students. Sign up to donate specific items. Please drop off any donations at the Lorton Community Center. They will organize the backpacks and supplies, then distribute them to LCAC clients the following weekend.
Cornerstones
Back to School Drive
Ends August 4th
Cornerstones is collecting new backpacks for students in all grades with an emphasis on high school students. Donations will be collected at Cornerstones’ main office through Friday, August 4, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. You can also donate online through their Amazon wish list or make a cash donation.
Fairfax Bar Association Paralegal Section
Back to School Drive
Donate online through August 11th
The Fairfax Law Foundation is the 501 (c)(3) sister organization to the Fairfax Bar. Since its founding in 1982, the Fairfax Law Foundation has proven itself to be both an exemplary and necessary non-profit organization in Northern Virginia, providing Fairfax County residents with direct access to the legal community. Through both educational and charitable activities, the Fairfax Law Foundation remains true to its motto of “Equal Justice For All.”
Their 2023 Back to School Drive beneficiary is FACETS.
Donate online through August 11th
Northern Virginia Family Services
The 2023 Back2School Drive
Northern Virginia Family Services, also a local nonprofit organization, whose mission is to provide individuals with the essential building blocks for financial, emotional and physical well-being. Their annual Back2School Drive is no longer collecting items but you can donate to support this effort:
Thank you for your interest in supporting these local back to school drives! We celebrate the people and organizations that make Fairfax County a great please to live, work and play. We will continue to offer opportunities like this to connect you to our community. Together, we are building a vibrant community for all! Learn more about our community building mission here.
If you know of additional drives, please email us at Info@CelebrateFairfax.com.