Free school supplies and backpacks in New York City.
There are a number of places in the New York City area that provide free back to school supplies to low income families. There are items for kids in public or Catholic School, non-English speakers and anyone in need. Get everything from free backpacks to Chromebooks, uniforms and more for students from K to grade 12. Find the NYC free school supply giveaway events in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and of course Manhattan below.
The list below is only a sampling, as these will be agencies or charities that focus on giving out free supplies during the back to school season. Teachers in NYC can also get free classroom stuff. Therefore some of these back to school supply assistance programs are specific to that time of the year. There are several other places to try as well for shoes, school items, giveaways, winter coats and more. They include churches, non-profits, and free clothing banks in New York City.
What may be given out in one of these free school item giveaways may be bookbags, tablets, shoes, backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators, computers, laptops and other supplies to working poor families. The free school supply programs may also give out clothes as well, including uniforms, shoes, boots, jackets, headphones, new pants or shirts, dresses, and more. Most of the assistance programs are first come-served. Note these programs are not always held every year, so it is recommended to call in advance.
Organizations that provide free back to school supplies in NYC
Salvation Army Family Stores
Various school supply giveaways are given across New York. There are locations in all boroughs, with stores in Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, and of course Brooklyn. Kids can be give free school supplies or clothes based on age, with those in elementary as well as high school given age appropriate items too. Find details on Salvation Army Family Services in NYC.
River Fund New York Inc
Address is 8911 Lefferts Blvd, Jamaica, New York 11418. Phone: (718) 441-1125
For qualified low-income parents and students, they will be given an entire set of free school supplies. There is also food, lunchboxes, and other items. The package may have notebooks, shoes, and other goods.
Ocean Avenue Tenants Association
This is only for members of the community. Address - 1306 Ocean Avenue (Ocean Avenue & Avenue) in Brooklyn, NY. Members of the housing unit can get clothes, books, pens, pencils, and other free school items.
The New York Foundling
590 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011. Phone - 212-633-9300
They have several child welfare type programs, one of which helps with educational needs including free school supplies. They also help teens leaving jail or foster care, give items to disabled students in NYC and offer other support.
Provident Loan Society – In most years they give out supplies from each branch in New York City. Notebooks, bags, books, and more are given to students. There are multiple sites as noted below.
- 346 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010, call (212) 685-0386
- Address: 180 E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021, main phone (212) 288-0918
- Provident Loan Society of NY has centers in Flushing, Queens at 136-48 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, dial (718) 358-9191
- Another office is at 7804 5th Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11209, Main Phone: (718) 238-0506
- The last site address is 2573 Decatur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458, dial (718) 367-2850
Catholic Charities
There are many churches that are part of this church-based group. Assistance programs include free clothes and uniforms, school supplies, financial aid, shelter, and much more. There is also help, including school supplies, for immigrant as well as refugee children among others as well as non-English speakers. More on Catholic Charity New York City assistance programs.
JCC of Marine Park
Address is 3415 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY 11234. Phone number is (718) 407-1832.
New York Cares
39 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. Dial (212) 228-5000
The back to school assistance program is known as Stand With Students. Using donations from the public, the non-profit provides teachers and students with free supplies they need. Get a tablet, personal hygiene kits, tablet or Chromebook, notebooks and more. Kids from low-income families in NY, including single mom or dad run homes, will get help. There are even free government iPhones in NY.
St. Therese of Lisieux Church
Location: 4410 Avenue D (Ave D & East 45th Street, Brooklyn, New York. Main number is (718) 629-9330
They help kids in the local area. Food, school items, and more is passed out.
Kingsbridge Heights Community Center
The non-profit is at 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, Bronx, NY 10463. Call (718) 884-0700
Bronx area families will free back to school supplies, gift cards and more. There are tech products, clothes or uniforms and other goods given out.
United Way of New York City
They have a number of assistance programs, including for students from low-income families from kindergarten up through college. Most of the assistance is offered with partners. Programs such as EducateNYC can provide free back to school supplies, notebooks, computers, books and educational material for kids from K to 12.
The United Way - ReadNYC helps encourage kids to read, and gives them the material they need for that. They also help organize back to school "bashes" and parties throughout the city in which students can get backpacks full of school supplies, personal hygiene items, health check ups, haircuts and more. Text 311-692 for referrals from the United Way.
- NYSoM Back to School Bonanza, 308 Marcus Garvey Blvd., Brooklyn, New York 11221
- Local politicians – Many organize back to school supply drives. They advertise them, rely on members of their district to volunteer as well as donate goods, and much more. One place to get contact information on local senators includes https://www.nysenate.gov/senators-committees. Or try the United Way for details.
Family Resource Centers / Growing up NYC are located throughout NYC. The addresses are below. They help low-income parents as well as single mothers or the unemployed with educational workshops, clothes or supplies for school (even college) and more. There may be laptops for distance (remote) learning, free school supplies such as pens, pencils, calculators, protractors, notebooks, crayons for young kids and more.
- Queens Alliance, 29-46 Northern Blvd, Queens, New York 11101. Call (718) 651-1960
- Family Youth and Peer Support Bronx Alliance is at 975 Kelly Street, Bronx, New York 10459. Dial (718) 220-0456
- Jewish Child Care Association, 858 East 29th St., Brooklyn, NY 11210 Phone: 347-462-8124
The New York area covers millions of people. Many families are very busy trying to make ends meet so they can't go to a school supply giveaway event. Or it can be costly for a low income family to pay for a subway or transportation. Or other barriers are faced in NYC, such as immigration status, languages, or anything else. In these cases they can try to get school supplies by mail order.
Donate NYC
The government affiliated organization offers many assistance programs, one of which is partnerships in which students can get free school supplies. It is a partnership of local charities and social service offices that help students get the stuff they need for back to school, and get details here. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/donate/site/.
Coalition for the Homeless in NYC
129 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038. Phone: (212) 776-2000
Donations are collected from the public, and items given to homeless kids from Queens to Brooklyn. This programs also help migrant and refugees get free back to school supplies as well as clothes to help them acclimate.
National Council of Jewish Women New York
Address is 241 W. 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023. Phone (212) 687-5030
The charity operates a free back to school store. Based on donations, each student gets one free outfit including socks, dresses, pants, and more. It is a client choice store, so children select what they want. There is also a free backpack given out containing supplies. The event takes place/store is open once per year. Call 212-687-5030 for information.
Volunteers of America Greater New York – Operation Backpack
22 E 119th St Mgmt, New York, NY 10035. Phone (212) 873-2600
Most of the free or low cost school supplies are given to homeless kids. But there may be some items (pencils, notebooks, etc.) for kids coming from a home that meets poverty guidelines. The assistance program is known as Operation Backpack.
Rising Ground
1333 Broadway, New York, NY 10018. Call (212) 437-3500
All NYC borough are supported. Get books, pens or notebooks, backpacks and more. All kids in the program can apply.
Child Center of NY
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Call 718-651-7770
Free school backpacks are given to kids throughout the city. There will be supplies that are grade and gender specific, with items like crayons for younger students and calculators for old kids with more more given out.
Additional NYC are free school supply bashes - events
The organizations below will have annual programs that give out free school supplies. Some work with local politicians or companies to help students. There will be backpacks, hygiene kits, notebooks, folders, pencils or pens, crayons, medical checkups and clothes. Much more may be given out too.
- First Step Ministry Church free school supply giveaway is from 298 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11221. Dial (718) 455-5689
- CASS Chinese American Social Services Center. Location is 124 Avenue O, Brooklyn, NY. Call (718) 975-0955. They help immigrants and students from Asian counties prepare for school.
- Staten Island Seventh-Day Adventist Church provides help from 80 Union Ave, Staten Island, NY 10303. Call (718) 442-4806
- Crossroads Christian Church is at 6501 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220. Call (347) 578-7004
Department of Social Services and Human Resources Administration
This government organization gives referrals. They take the callers information and direct clients to a back to school supply drive, clothing closet, or some other distribution center near them in their borough. Dial 311.
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