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May 11th through August 19th, 2026

Each year, thousands of New Jersey children attend their first day of school without basic educational tools such as backpacks, notebooks, and calculators. These under-resourced children struggle to succeed academically. Jersey Cares works with dozens of schools, children's shelters, and community centers with the goal that no children in New Jersey will have to experience a first day of school without these basic necessities. With your help we can bridge the gap between disadvantage and academic success.

 

Register to Collect

As a collection site you will have the opportunity to provide youth between ages of 7-16 with the chance of academic success. You and your team may sign up to collect school supplies from our list of accepted item below. You may also register as a Public Collection Site if you'd like to accept donations from your local community!

To register as a 2026 School Supply Drive Collection Site, please click HERE.

Items NOT ACCEPTED for the School Supply Drive include:

  • Items not included on our accepted donation list
  • Used items of any kind including but not limited to:
    • Notebooks with pages torn out
    • Folders with torn pockets
  • Miscellaneous office supplies

Items ACCEPTED for the School Supply Drive include:

  • Backpacks (may be new OR gently used)
  • NEW 1, 3, and 5 Subject Notebooks
  • NEW Composition Notebooks
  • NEW 2-Pocket Folders
  • NEW Pencil Cases
  • NEW #2 Pencils
  • NEW Pencil Sharpeners
  • NEW Erasers
  • NEW Pens
  • NEW Hi-lighters
  • NEW Crayons, Washable Markers, and Colored Pencils
  • NEW Calculators
  • NEW Child Safety Scissors
  • NEW Glue
  • NEW Rulers (12")
  • NEW Headphones
  • Visa or Amazon Gift Cards

Delivery Address and Instructions:

Please sort collected items by kind (i.e. notebooks, folders, highlighters) prior to delivery and do not place items inside backpacks.

NEW for 2026: Donations may be dropped off by appointment only through Wednesday, August 19th.

Once you are ready to drop off your donations, please click HERE to schedule a date/time with our team or if you would like to ship us your donations, please mail them to the address listed below.

Jersey Cares
Attn: School Supply Drive
290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 1320
Livingston, NJ 07039
 
Can't make it to our office? Check out our list of Public Collection Sites once it becomes available to find a location close to you.
 

Donate Supplies Virtually

Want to contribute to the School Supply Drive, but don't have time to go to the store?

Visit our Amazon Wish List or shop via YouGiveGoods to have items sent directly to us!

Host an Online Supply Drive

Run your School Supply Drive online for free! To set up your online drive page with our partners at YouGiveGoods, please click HERE and click "Join the Goods-A-Thon" to begin customizing your donation page and receive your custom sharable link. 

Please note: all YouGiveGoods pages will close on August 5th to allow for items to arrive by August 19th.

Swag and Support

Head over to our online store to make a donation of one fully packed backpack to a child in New Jersey and receive a School Supply Drive t-shirt or Jersey Cares backpack as a thank you!

To make a donation and check out other Jersey Cares accessories, please click HERE.

Register to Receive

Registration will open on June 1st, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

As an agency recipient you may request to receive School Supply supplies. Please be advised that donations cannot be guaranteed and distribution operates on a first-come, first-served basis. We rely heavily on the participation of collection sites, therefore we cannot guarantee the number of backpacks requested will be filled.

**Please be advised that only registered 501c3 organizations, government agencies, or public schools from New Jersey will be considered for donations**

Pick-Up Address and Instructions:

Jersey Cares will call you to schedule a pick-up date and time closer to the end of our drive in August. Upon arrival for your scheduled pick-up, please call our office at (973) 533-1993 and press option 2 to be directed to our loading dock for delivery assistance.

Jersey Cares
290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039

Now Accepting 2026 Sponsors

Want to See Your Company's Name/Logo HERE?

For more information and to sponsor at a level that works for your company, please email Meagan Muller at meagan@jerserycares.org.

Questions? Please call us at 973-533-1993 or email us at schoolsupply@jerseycares.org.

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