Back To School: Donate School Supplies to Kids in Need

The first day of school for students in Howard County is just three weeks away.

For many kids, that means it's time to start rampaging through the aisles at an office supply store in search of the trendiest backpack and multi-colored highlighters.

But for plenty of students in Howard County, school supplies aren't trendy accessories. They are a necessity that families can’t afford. 

In Howard County, 14.5 percent of families qualify for reduced or free lunches -- the income requirements are slightly above the poverty levels set by the federal government. For example, a three-person household qualifies if the household income is $33,874 or less.

There are several organizations in Howard County that collect donations of new or unused school supplies to pass along to students in financial need. Here are a few, taken from written notices. Please feel free to add any additional resources in the comments section.

• The Howard County NAACP has a Back-to-School/Stay-in-School program that annually gives away free backpacks and school supplies to approximately 100 students in low- to moderate-income housing communities in Howard County. The Back-to-School Program is 501c(3) certified. Anyone interested in donating supplies and/or money can contact NAACP Education Chairperson Rhonda Jones at 877-817-7086 or at rjones@naacpreaditforward.org.

• The PTA Council of Howard County is partnered with Prepare for Success, which is part of Community Action Council (a 501c3 organization). Prepare for success donates backpacks filled with supplies to Howard County students. For more information, visit the Prepare for Success website. Donations can be made online directly at: http://cac-hc.org/CAC/cac_makeadonation.htm

• Grace Community Church in Fulton is collecting new or unused school supplies through Sun., Aug. 14 in the church lobby and at the church’s youth ministries, TotZone and KidZone. The church is most in need of marble composition books, solid-colored folders and backpacks. These items are also needed: 

Backpack (no wheeled backpacks)

Marble composition notebooks

3-ring hole pocket folders w/ fasteners (solid colors best)

3-ring hole pocket folders w/o fasteners (solid colors)

3-ring holed subject dividers

Wide-ruled notebook paper

School box or zippered pencil pouch

#2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)

Pencil top erasers

Large pink erasers

Crayons - 8, 16, 24 count

8-pack thick markers