Have you ever wondered why your child’s school supply list includes 48 pre-sharpened No. 2 pencils, 12 glue sticks, 3 crayon boxes, 1 box of ziploc bags, 2 tissue boxes, and other seemingly vast amounts of other office items?
Well, here’s why:
Central Texas' low income student population has grown by more than 94 percent over the last ten years. Almost 50% of students in Central Texas are considered low-income.
The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.
In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide these supplies.
In addition to asking parents for their help, many school districts as well as nonprofit organizations host annual school supply drives where individuals and companies can donate school supplies or money to buy school supplies, and eligible students receive items needed for the upcoming school year, such as backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and shoes.
Here is a list of 2022 Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.
Program:
Austin ISD, in collaboration with the city of Austin, hosts its annual Back to School Bash and Safety Fair.
Location: Palmer Events Center
900 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
Free shuttles.
Date:
Saturday, August 6, 2022, 9 am - 1 pm.
Supplies provided:
Free backpack filled with school supplies (Austin ISD students must be present), free vaccinations by Dell Children’s/AISD Health Services (families must present student shot records), 150 community organizations and district departments will provide information and activities to prepare AISD students for a safe and successful school year, free vision exams and eyeglasses by Kids Vision for Life Central Texas.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Backpack stuffing, event setup, greet families, hand out Bash map, hand out wristbands for children, and more. More info here or contact Griselda Rodriguez at griselda.rodriguez@austinisd.org or 512-414-9955.
Donations/Sponsorship Opportunities:
There are different levels sponsorship opportunities.
Program:
The Back to School Bash will be held on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 6:30-9 pm at Memorial Stadium. School supplies will be distributed during this event. We can't wait to have everyone back for an evening of fun.
Location:
Bastrop ISD Memorial Stadium
755 TX-21 W
Cedar Creek, Texas 78612
Date:
Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 6:30 - 9 pm.
Supplies provided:
Free backpack filled with school supplies.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Contact Lauri Anzaldua at lanzaldua@bisdtx.org or call (512) 772-7180.
Donations/Sponsorship Opportunities:
To become a community partner, make a financial donation for school supplies (accepted year round), or if you have any questions, contact Lauri Anzaldua at lanzaldua@bisdtx.org or call (512) 772-7180. If you would like to donate supplies, donations are accepted at several locations.
Program:
Foundation Communities provides after-school and summer learning programs for 1,000 students at 12 on-site Learning Centers. The annual Back to School Drive collects backpacks and school
supplies for the students who participate in the after-school program.
Location (donation drop off):
Community Financial Center
2600 West Stassney
Austin, TX 78745
Date (donation drop off):
July 25-29, 2022
Supplies provided:
Backpacks, school supplies.
Donations/Sponsorship Opportunities:
Donations can be dropped of at the Community Financial Center. More info here.
Program:
Manos de Cristo helps 2,000 low-income children prepare for a successful school year.
Location:
IDEA Allan Campus
1701 Vargas Road,
Austin, TX 78741
Dates:
July 11 – July 29, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Supplies provided:
Any students, in Pre-K through 5th grade wanting to be served, need to contact Julie Ballesteros for an appointment. She can be reached at jballesteros@manosdecristo.org.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Clothing selection, school supplies distribution, registration, entertainment, data entry, photographer, videographer. More information here.
Donations:
$60 will sponsor a child to prepare one child for school. Donate here.
Program:
Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation, Round Rock ISD, the Round Rock Police Department, along with the Round Rock Express are joining forces for our fourth community wide “Back to School Celebration”. Together we will be offering entertainment, various educational vendor booths, lunch, hearing and eye exams and free school supplies for Round Rock ISD students.
Location:
Dell Diamond
3400 E. Palm Valley
Round Rock, TX 78665
Date:
This year is crucial for Round Rock ISD students’ long-term academic success, and we need your support again. All proceeds raised will go directly to purchasing individual new supply kits that will be delivered to all Round Rock ISD Campuses at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
Supplies provided:
Free haircuts, lunch, hearing and eye exams and free school supplies for Round Rock ISD students.
Volunteer Opportunities:
School supply sorting and packing, event set up, activities, food, greeting, parking lot, check-in, and others. More information here.
Donations/Sponsorship Opportunities:
Adopt-A-Grade program and a donation of $2,500 sponsors can support an entire grade level of supplies.
Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation School Supply 100 Club is for small local businesses and individuals to help support the school supply drive by donating $100 to support 10 students.
Donations from individuals.
Program:
A volunteer effort organized by City of Austin employees to benefit local students.
Location:
Austin City Hall
301 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
Date:
Friday, July 29, 2022, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Supplies provided:
Backpacks with school supplies. School supplies list here.
The backpacks get distributed to AISD schools.