Erasing the Need: Where to Donate School Supplies to Help Local Kids

Erasing the Need: Where to Donate School Supplies to Help Local Kids

By Last Updated

Did you know many students don’t have some of the most basic supplies they need to succeed in the classroom?

School is almost back in session and that means shopping for back-to-school supplies, but for 150,000+ students from lower-income Hillsborough County households struggling financially this year, a trip to the store can be stressful.

Patel Conservatory dancers perform as baby mice in Next Generation Ballet's production of Nutcracker.

Looking for Things to Do in Tampa Bay?

>>This Weekend’s Top Picks
>>Holiday Fun in Tampa Bay
>> 40+ Free Things to Do with Kids

So, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCAs & Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) are holding a back-to-school drive. Starting Wednesday, July 28 through Friday, August 6, all community members are invited to donate new school supplies at these participating YMCAs:

  • BOB GILBERTSON CENTRAL CITY FAMILY YMCA • 110 E. Palm Ave. • Tampa, FL 33602
  • BOB SIERRA NORTH TAMPA YMCA • 4029 Northdale Rd. • Tampa, FL 33624
  • CAMPO FAMILY YMCA • 3414 Culbreath Rd. • Valrico, FL 33596
  • DOWNTOWN YMCA • 104 S. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602
  • NEW TAMPA FAMILY YMCA • 16221 Compton Dr. • Tampa, FL 33647
  • NORTH BRANDON FAMILY YMCA • 3097 S. Kingsway Rd. • Seffner, FL 33584
  • NORTHWEST HILLSBOROUGH FAMILY YMCA • 8950 W. Waters Ave. • Tampa, FL 33615
  • PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA • 1507 YMCA Place • Plant City, FL 33563
  • SOUTH TAMPA FAMILY YMCA • 4411 S. Himes Ave. • Tampa, FL 33611
  • SPURLINO FAMILY YMCA • 9650 Old Big Bend Rd. • Gibsonton, FL 33534
  • YMCA CAMP CRISTINA • 9840 Balm Riverview Road. • Riverview, FL 33569

school supplies

“The school supply list can be overwhelming for many parents, so the Y is proud to partner with Hillsborough Education Foundation to provide more children the opportunity to start school with the resources to be successful,” says Tampa Y Vice President of Community Partnerships Candace Culver.

Donation bins will be set up in the lobbies of all participating Tampa YMCAs to collect these most-needed school supplies:

  • Backpacks
  • Calculators
  • Children’s Books (K-12)
  • Compasses/Protractors
  • Composition Books
  • Copy Paper
  • Crayons (24 Count)
  • Dividers
  • Dry Erase Markers
  • Glue Sticks
  • Headphones
  • Highlighters
  • Index Cards
  • Large Pink Erasers
  • Pencils
  • Pens
  • Pocket Folders
  • Scissors
  • Rulers
  • Washable Markers

This is the second annual back-to-school drive collecting donations for community schools. Working together last year, the Y and HEF collected $5,000 worth of donated school supplies- enough to fill more than 250 backpacks for local students.

“We are grateful for the support from the YMCA community to help put essential school supplies into the hands of students who need them most,” says Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell.

Presented by the YMCA