United Way of Northern New Jersey is seeking help from Warren County volunteers and donors to help provide new school supplies for its annual United Way Tools for School drive, which provides students with the basic tools needed to succeed in the classroom.  

Based on the needs expressed by local educators, United Way is collecting the following school supplies: backpacks, lunch boxes, binders, three-ring notebooks, book covers, filler paper, pocket folders, composition and spiral notebooks, index cards, calculators, pencils, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, erasers, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, glue, tape, rulers, and scissors.  

In addition, school nurses have asked for personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, Band-Aids, and kindergarten and first grade-aged children’s underwear and socks. Gift cards that can be used to purchase items such as shoes and clothing are also appreciated.    

Warren County donations can be dropped off at its local drop-off site on Thursday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at Taylor Street School, on Taylor Street in Washington. Through a partnership between United Way and YouGiveGoods.com, donors can also make an online purchase of supplies that will be delivered automatically to United Way. Donations can be made by visiting www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/ToolsforSchool.  

The drive seeks to benefit more than 12,000 elementary and middle school children of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and families in poverty throughout the northern New Jersey region by lessening the strain on already strapped household budgets. According to a 2018 National Retail Federation survey, families were expected to spend an average of $122 per child on school supplies such as backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks and pencils. That does not include electronics, clothing, accessories and other school necessities.  

“United Way Tools for School offers companies, groups, clubs, places of worship, families and individuals the opportunity to provide students in need with basic school supplies,” United Way Chief Operating Officer Kiran Handa Gaudioso said. ”As a community, we can assist ALICE families who are working hard but struggling to get by and give students the tools needed to start the school year on the right track.” 

Last year, with the help of 225 volunteers, supplies valued at $190,000 were collected and distributed to 66 elementary and middle schools and 16 nonprofit agencies throughout the northern New Jersey region.   

For more information about making donations, holding a United Way Tools for School drive, or to volunteer with sorting  supplies,  visit  www.UnitedWayNNJ.org/ToolsforSchool, email Lisa.Galonardo@UnitedWayNNJ.org or call 973.993.1160, x503.