Where to donate school supplies in KC
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
Metro nonprofits, restaurants, school districts and at least one municipal court are gathering school supplies before students return to class next month.
Why it matters: Nearly one in five Kansas City children lives below the poverty line, per the city, which affects how many kids start the year equipped.
By the numbers: Parents will spend an average of $173.45 on the 21 most common supply items, up 7.7% in a year, according to Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation, which analyzed transaction data from about 50,000 retailers.
- Lunchboxes rose 26.8%, single-subject notebooks 23%, index cards 22.2% and notebook paper 20%.
- Counting meals, the groups put the full year at close to $4,000 per child, 10.7% more than last year.
Metro-wide
- ScrapsKC collects at sites across the city through August, then gives supplies free to any teacher who picks them up. It served more than 700 last year.
- The Big Biscuit takes new, unused supplies at all 32 locations through Aug. 16, routing each donation to the district where it was dropped off.
Jackson County
- Community Services League sells $50 sponsorships through Friday, each buying one child a stocked backpack and shoes, handed out Aug. 22 at Cable Dahmer Arena.
- Cargo for Kids, run by discount retailer Cargo Largo, packs donated supplies and hygiene items into hundreds of backpacks for Independence students.
- Center School District wants supplies and clear backpacks ahead of its Aug. 8 bash, where about 1,000 students and family members will register for classes.
- Lee's Summit Social Services has run its drive since 1992 and takes supplies, cash and volunteers.
- FosterAdopt Connect collects ahead of its Aug. 1 drive for children in foster care.
- Love Fund for Children, run by FOX4, is gathering supplies for Kansas City Public Schools' Aug. 1 giveaway.
Clay County
- North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation takes donations Aug. 7 at the Gladstone Walmart.
Platte County
- Replenish KC accepts donations online or through community partners for Park Hill families.
Johnson County
- Olathe's municipal court knocks up to $50 off a traffic or parking fine for $15 in new supplies, receipt required, through Aug. 4.
- Her Legacy Leaders collects ahead of an Aug. 15 event serving 125 students.
The bottom line: All of these events are working toward a stocked backpack for every kid on day one.