HISTORIC TRIANGLE — School will soon be starting, and several organizations are aiming to make sure students begin the year with the necessary supplies that can be a student’s first step to success.
School supply drives collecting for the 2023-24 school year include:
Williamsburg Police Department
Williamsburg Police Department is partnering with the city’s Human Services Care Team, Walgreens, and Staples for this year’s Back to School Drive. Collection boxes will be available at Walgreens, Staples, and the police department from now until Aug. 12. There will also be an in-person collection for the drive on the following dates:
- Aug. 5 at Walgreens in Williamsburg from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Aug. 12 at Staples from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will also be holding a school supply drive on Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2601 George Washington Memorial Highway in Yorktown. All of the school supplies collected will go to the York County School Division to be distributed to the schools as needed.
Real People Educating Others and the 757 Giveback Community
Located at Lafayette High School, the annual school supply drive run by RPEO and 757 Giveback Community will be on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will have a variety of vendors and activities on site such as free haircuts, a gaming truck, bounce house, face painting, monster truck, ID-A-Kid and food.
Semeritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child
For children overseas, Semeritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child has residents in Williamsburg collecting school supplies, along with personal care items and fun toys, to pack in shoeboxes. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver these gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 100 countries.
National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
The Salvation Army of the Virginia Peninsula
The Salvation Army of the Virginia Peninsula has been collecting donations and will be holding a Back to School Bash for students to collect the school supplies.
Anyone can register to receive school supplies; the only requirement is that the student attends school in the Virginia Peninsula service area. Registration is open now until Aug. 20. Call 757-838-4875 to register. Supplies will be distributed at the Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Back-to-School Bash will feature games and activities, music, food and fun for families. The Back-to-School Bash will be open to the public and registration is only necessary for those in need of school supplies.
The Salvation Army is still taking donations at any of its donation collection locations, as well as online through its Amazon Wish List and Walmart registry.
Any back to school supply events that we missed that are upcoming? Email us at info@wydaily.com to be added to the list.
