Presenting Sponsor
The School Supply Drive is Back: June 9 to July 17!
We’re coming together to help local students kick off the school year with everything they need. With the support of Aeroflow Health and First Citizens Bank, it’s easy to get involved and make a significant difference.
Last year, our community assisted 2,332 students in heading back to school with backpacks full of supplies and smiles on their faces. Let’s do it again — and maybe even surpass it.
There are many ways to get involved. Keep scrolling and find the one that’s right for you.
TOGETHER, WE GIVE LOCAL STUDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
Donate Below.
Support Students And Families
There are three simple ways you can support local students to ensure they're prepared to enter the classroom in August.
- Shop online! Purchase supplies or a fully stocked backpack at Roonga for less than $30.
- Donate and we'll shop for you:
- Give online (follow the prompts in the form below)
- Mail your check to:
- United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
50 S. French Broad Avenue, STE. 100
Asheville, NC 28801
*Please write 2025 School Supply Drive in the memo.
- United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
- Call our office with your credit card information, 828.255.0696
- Host your own virtual drive by creating a team on Roonga and encouraging your coworkers, friends, and family to get involved. Follow these simple instructions to get started.
*PLEASE NOTE: We are not accepting loose supplies to ensure each student receives the same quality supplies.
Questions? Contact Ginny Allison.
A special thank you to our Pack-N-Sort Volunteer Lounge Sponsor:
_0.jpg)
About The School Supply Drive
UWABC believes that we can co-create a place where every person has the opportunity to succeed. One of the many ways we do this is by bringing people and partners together through our annual School Supply Drive. Since the drive's inception, United Way's Volunteer Center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, has rallied the community to send over 25,000 students back to school with fully stocked backpacks.
Our School Supply Drive intersects multiple points of engagement that involve all sectors of the community:
- During the planning phase, we work closely with partners, teachers, and community school coordinators to identify the need and customize the supply lists for each grade level.
- During the campaign, we connect with community donors and local businesses who want to contribute financially towards purchasing school supplies.
- As the drive comes to a close, we host a three-day Pack and Sort event where volunteers, businesses, and community partners fill backpacks with the needed school supplies. During this time, we also attend public distribution events to spend quality time with partners and experience the joy as students receive their fully stocked backpacks.
We do this to ensure youth have the opportunity to obtain the resources they need to win in the classroom. Join us today!
Distribution Partners
ABCCM Hominy Valley
ACS: Youth in Transition Program
Asheville Housing Authority FSS Program
Asheville High/SILSA
Asheville Middle School
BCS: Migrant Education Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters WNC
Caring for Children
Catholic Charities
Children First / Communities in Schools
Christine W. Avery Learning Center
Colaborativa la Milpa: CIMA, Raices
Delta House
Department of Juvenile Justice
Enka Intermediate School
Enka Middle School
Erwin Middle School
Hall Fletcher Elementary
Horizons at Carolina Day
My Daddy Taught Me That
My Sistah Taught Me That
North Buncombe Middle School
Owen Middle School
Project Lighten Up
Reynolds Middle School
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church Youth Program
Umoja Health, Wellness, and Justice Collective
Verner Center for Early Learning
YMCA
Youthful Hand - Hillcrest
YTL
YWCA of Asheville and WNC
Fully stocked backpacks, donated through the UWABC annual School Supply Drive, are distributed to elementary, middle, and high school students through distribution partners working directly with youth throughout Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. If your child is not currently enrolled in one of these partner programs, make sure to check in with your student's school counselor as we are making supplies available at Community Schools and resource centers.
*Please Note: School supplies are NOT kept at the United Way office and are not available for pickup.
5 Tips for Running a Successful School Supply Drive
- Spread the Word! Ask neighbors, friends, and family to get involved. Invite your coworkers, faith community, and members of clubs/civic groups to participate with you. Share the link to the Roonga website for them to easily and safely make an online donation to support a local student this school year.
- Consider creating your own Team under our main drive on Roonga! By creating your own team, you can personalize your page, set goals, share your excitement for student success, and send out your team's custom link to your drive with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Social Media is a Powerful Tool! Share a post with your network about why you're getting involved in this year's School Supply Drive. Make sure you tag us on Facebook @ United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County + use the hashtag #UnitedWayAVLSchoolSupplyDrive
- Remind Your Network! Persistence is key! Once or twice a week during the drive, remind your network so they don't forget. Share the Roonga link to Facebook or send out an email or group text and rally your network.
- Celebrate Success! Simple, small gestures of thanks go a long way and help us feel connected. consider a handwritten note, a text message of thanks, or an email with a personal touch of gratitude.
THANK YOU!
Thank you in advance for your enthusiasm and support of this year's drive!