How to Donate School Supplies Left Over From Fall
Sort fall extras by condition, then match new and used supplies to the right donation channel.
Sort leftover fall supplies into new and gently used piles, then send new items to programs that require new goods and usable used items to local schools, nonprofits, or reuse groups. That split matters because some national programs accept only new supplies. Start with backpacks, pens, pencils, markers, paper, and similar items still in good shape.
Small sorting work helps each donation reach students and teachers who can use it.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
Start by sorting what you have
Empty backpacks and desk drawers, then test pens, markers, and glue sticks. Keep items that work and look clean, and set aside broken pieces for trash or appropriate recycling. Separate never-used supplies from gently used ones.
According to Kent County, backpacks, pens, pencils, markers and similar items still in great shape can be donated to local organizations or schools, or listed through options such as Kent County's school-supplies reuse guidance.
Where can gently used supplies go?
Ask a nearby school, preschool, daycare, summer camp, church, or community-service organization whether it redistributes supplies to students and teachers in need. Cuyahoga County points donors toward these local redistribution points for usable school supplies in its Cuyahoga County school-supplies guidance. Goodwill stores and drop sites also accept gently used goods, with donations supporting local job training and community programs.
For Salvation Army locations, enter a ZIP code at satruck.org to find local donation options or pickup.
- Check with your child's school or district office first.
- Ask local churches, preschools, daycares, and youth programs.
- Offer clean extras through Marketplace, Freecycle, Craigslist, or BuyNothing.
Where should new supplies go?
Save unopened packs, unused notebooks, and new backpacks for programs that require new items. The Kids In Need Foundation accepts donated new, K-12-appropriate school supplies and routes them directly or through its national network to students and teachers in under-resourced schools, as described in the Kids In Need Foundation product-donation information. That same source states all products must be new and that it cannot accept used items, chemicals, or hazardous materials.
Send used fall leftovers through a local channel instead.
What about crayons and items some programs will not take?
Collect gently used crayons in a box or basket for the Crayon Collection crayon-recycling program, which redirects them with art-education curriculum to underserved preschools, elementary schools, and Title 1 schools. Details are on the program's crayon-recycling page at the Crayon Collection program page. DonorsChoose is not set up to handle in-kind donations of materials or services.
It refers material donors to Kids In Need for new or returned merchandise, plus NAEIR and Good360. Call ahead before bringing bulk items anywhere, since storage space and needs change by season.