How To Support School Supply Drives For Fairfax County Students

FAIRFAX, VA — As August approaches, parents start to think about the school supplies their kids need for the new school year. According to the National Retail Foundation's 2019 Back-to-School survey, K-12 families spend an average $117.49 on school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, backpacks and lunch boxes. That's on top of expenses like clothes and electronics.

Purchasing all required items on a school supply list can be a hardship for families with tight budgets. That's why community partners and businesses hold school supply drives every summer for Fairfax County students. This year, there are several opportunities to donate.

If your community group or business is hosting a drive, email Emily.Leayman@patch.com, and we'll add it to the list.

SEE ALSO: Virginia Sales Tax Holiday 2019: What You Can Buy Tax-Free

Collect for Kids

Collect for Kids holds an annual backpack and school supply drive for Fairfax County students. Children who qualify for free and reduced-price meals can receive the backpacks and supplies from the drive. The drive happens between July 9 and Aug. 16, but backpacks are accepted through August. Monetary donations are accepted year round.

You can make a monetary donation at www.collectforkids.org. These funds provide school supplies and backpacks for students in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Backpack can be dropped off at these locations:

• Any Apple Federal Credit Union branch
• FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, 4511 Daly Drive, Suite J Chantilly, VA 20151
• Britepaths, 3959 Pender Drive #200, Fairfax, VA 22030
• Cornerstones, 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210 Reston, VA 20190
• United Community, 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306
• Wesley Housing, 5515 Cherokee Avenue, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22312
• FACETS, 10700 Page Avenue Building B, Fairfax, VA 22030

Collect for Kids says students need new and sturdy backpacks, and high school students need larger backpacks that can fit a FCPS-issued laptop. Wheeled or drawstring backpacks are not accepted.

School supplies can be dropped off at any Apple Federal Credit Union location. See school supply wish lists for Fairfax County students here.

FACETS

School supplies can be dropped off at FACETS on weekdays through Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Locations are the FACETS main office at 10700 Page Avenue, Building B, Fairfax VA 22030 and the Next Steps Family Program at 8794-O Sacramento Drive, Alexandria VA.

You can also donate online (indicate Back to School drive in the Special Instructions field) or send a check to the FACETS main office and write “school supplies” in the memo.

FACETS has a list of needed school supplies here.