5 Ways To Give Back During Back-To-School Season

Help a young student in need by donating to these Bergen County school supply drives.

No matter how much we want summer to be endless, we also can’t deny that there’s something satisfying about school-supply shopping. Stocking up on new pencils, pens, three-ring binders and paper really makes you (and your kid) feel like a more productive time of year is starting.

Buying all the necessary supplies, however, adds up and can be taxing on some families. Luckily, there are charitable organizations that make sure local kids and teens have all the materials they need to succeed in school. While there are general, state-wide groups that accept supply donations (Jersey Cares in nearby Livingston, for example), Bergen-based charities are also doing their part.

Here are five Bergen organizations currently accepting school supply donations:

• In Hackensack, you can donate to the County of Bergen’s school supplies drive until the end of the day on Friday. They are accepting backpacks, pencils, erasers, loose leaf paper and crayons. Bins for drop-off are located in the lobby of the county administration building.
• The Boys & Girls Club of Lower Bergen County in Lodi is holding a school supplies drive until Aug. 30. Needed items include notebooks, glue sticks, calculators and children’s scissors. Drop-off locations can be found at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Lodi and Hackensack.
• Families for Families, a charity based in Wyckoff, offers a program where you can “adopt a student.” Sponsors receive a list of supplies that a specific child in Bergen needs, fills a backpack with those supplies and drops them off at the Families for Families center.
• The Upper Saddle River Woman’s Club is holding a backpack and supply drive until Aug. 20. In addition to standard school supplies, the club also singles out snack bags, sanitary napkins and rideshare gift cards as particularly needed items. Donations can be dropped off at the Upper Saddle River Library and two Woman’s Club members’ homes in the borough.
• Children’s Aid and Family Services in Paramus is also collecting for their back-to-school drive. You can send items directly to the organization through Amazon, or contact Christina Diomede at 201.740.7104 or cdiomede@cafsnj.org to schedule a drop-off time. In addition to standard school supplies, the drive also calls for sanitary items such as tissues, deodorant and body wash.

How are you giving back this time of year? Let us know in Instagram @bergenmagnj!