Staples Helps Collect School Supplies for Neediest Kids

DoSomething.org and Staples are working with Arlington-area teens and recording artist Bella Thorne for the fifth annual Staples for Students nationwide school supply drive. Locally, the drive will benefit Northern Virginia's Neediest Kids, an organization that works to provide school supplies to children and teens.  

The program encourages young people and teens to collect school supplies and drop them off at a local Staples through Sept. 15.

You can drop off donations at the . 

Neediest Kids helps students in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George's and Frederick counties, along with Alexandria, Washington and the Archdiocese of Washington. The organization was founded in 1972 and now serves more than 21,000 area students each year. 

Teens can get involved by requesting an action kit to hold a school supply drive in their own neighborhood, or at a summer camp or sports league at www.StaplesForStudents.org. They can also learn more about starting their own drive by texting the word SUPPLIES to 38383. 

“I’m excited to help motivate fellow teens to make a difference in their communities,” Thorne said in a news release issued by Staples. “There are so many kids in America who return to school without basic school supplies, and I’m thrilled to team up with Staples and DoSomething.org to encourage teens to lend a hand.”

Staples is donating $125,000 worth of school supplies to kick start the program and Staples customers can also donate $1 or more at any location with 100 percent of the proceeds going to local students in need. 

“We are truly inspired by what teens and our customers across the country can accomplish for the millions of children unable to afford basic school supplies,” said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of retail marketing at Staples. “With help from celebrities like Bella Thorne and support from DoSomething.org, we can send kids back to school with the tools they need to succeed.”