Seattle Area Free School Supply Giveaways and Back to School Programs.
King County has wide ranging back-to-school programs. Most are concentrated in the weeks leading up to the school year — generally late July through late August — and range from large multi-service community fairs to neighborhood pickups through food banks and clothing closets. Some programs, which are listed below by area, serve all King County families regardless of where they live; others are tightly restricted by school district enrollment or geography, so it pays to read those distinctions before making the trip.
A few programs listed here operate year-round or are distributed through school referral systems rather than walk-up events. Seasonal events especially can shift dates, locations, and eligibility requirements from year to year — always confirm with the organization before attending, and be aware that supplies at walk-in events go while they last.
- NOTE: Many of the dates the programs run, in particular on the events/giveaways, change each year. Check with the agency. Also, most programs are first come-served, and school supplies generally go quickly.
Programs Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness
These two programs specifically prioritize children without stable housing — a need that most general back-to-school events don't address. If your family is in a shelter, transitional housing, or otherwise unstably housed, start here.
Project Cool — Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
Project Cool is a well-established annual program that works directly through Seattle-area public schools to provide backpacks, grade-specific school supplies, age-appropriate books, and basic health items to students who are experiencing homelessness. Distribution is coordinated through school staff rather than through a public walk-in event — families are connected to the program through their child's school. The program has consistently reached over 1,500 students across King County schools. See https://homelessinfo.org/what-we-do/project-cool/. TO APPLY— Contact your child's school or the Coalition directly to confirm your student's eligibility and the current year's distribution process.
Mary's Place
Mary's Place, which operates family shelter and support services across King County, distributes school supplies each August to the families it serves. Backpacks and essential supplies have been part of their late-summer outreach. The organization primarily serves families who are homeless or at imminent risk, and access to supplies is tied to their existing services. See https://www.marysplaceseattle.org/ — If you're already connected with Mary's Place, reach out to your caseworker about school supply availability. If not, contact them to learn about eligibility for their shelter and support programs.
Seattle — Citywide and No Residency Restriction
Communities in Schools of Seattle — Stuff the Bus Drive
Communities in Schools of Seattle has historically run an annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive each summer, collecting donations and distributing supplies to students in Seattle-area schools. Distribution has been tied to school enrollment. Call to confirm the current year's distribution process and whether your student's school is a participating site. See https://gkc.ciswa.org/.
Salvation Army — Multiple King County Locations
The Salvation Army operates several service centers across King County, including locations serving North Seattle, Federal Way, Des Moines, Auburn, and Kent. Each location runs its own back-to-school assistance — typically backpacks, supplies, and occasionally clothing — and some centers primarily serve families living near poverty. Program availability and timing varies by location. Find the nearest center at https://kingcounty.salvationarmy.org/ or see the NHPB King County Salvation Army assistance page. Call your nearest center to confirm current school supply availability and any income eligibility requirements.
North Seattle and Wallingford/Fremont
FamilyWorks Seattle
1501 N. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98103 | (206) 694-6727
FamilyWorks, based in the Wallingford neighborhood, holds an annual late-August school supply event where families can select a backpack for generally up to two children along with a variety of grade-appropriate supplies. The event has typically been held in their conference space adjacent to their food bank. Families in the Wallingford and Fremont neighborhoods are the primary focus, though the organization serves the broader community. See https://www.familyworksseattle.org/.
Assistance League of Seattle — Operation School Bell
1415 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 | (206) 547-4680
The Assistance League's Operation School Bell program serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade and operates through a school referral system rather than a public event. A school nurse, counselor, or family support worker must refer the child for services, which have included books, learning materials, school clothing, and hygiene supplies. This is one of the few programs in Seattle specifically geared toward elementary-age children via an established school partnership model. See https://www.assistanceleague.org/seattle/ — Contact the Assistance League or ask your child's school counselor whether the school participates.
West and Southwest Seattle
Southwest Teen Life Center — Annual Back to School Giveaway
2801 SW Thistle St., Seattle, WA 98126
The Southwest Teen Life Center has hosted an annual late-summer back-to-school event in partnership with the nonprofit 1World1Sky, distributing hundreds of backpacks alongside family activities including barbecue and entertainment. No pre-registration has been required at past events. Date and format can shift year to year — check the center or West Seattle community channels each summer to confirm the event is happening and when.
South Seattle and Skyway
Southside Church of Christ — Back to School Community Giveaway
12200 59th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178
Each August, Southside Church of Christ hosts a full community back-to-school event in South Seattle open to all pre-K through 12th grade students and families in the area. Past events have included free backpacks, school supplies, food, games, and free haircuts for kids. Supplies go while they last, with no pre-registration required. Confirm the current year's date and location — event details can shift; follow @SouthsideCOCSeattleCares for announcements.
Rainier Beach Action Coalition
8825 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118 | (206) 914-1762
The Rainier Beach Action Coalition has held an annual back-to-school assistance event at their Rainier Avenue location open to students of all grades. Call to confirm the current year's program format, dates, and any eligibility requirements.
Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club
4520 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 | (206) 486-7171
The Rainier Vista Club has offered an annual back-to-school supply giveaway alongside other resources for youth in the south Seattle area. Call ahead to confirm the current year's program and whether the child needs to be a club member.
IRC — International Rescue Committee Seattle
The IRC's Youth Programs serve refugee and immigrant students across the greater Seattle area, distributing grade-specific backpacks and school supplies ahead of the school year. The program primarily benefits students already enrolled in IRC youth programming, and access is tied to that existing relationship. See https://www.rescue.org/united-states/seattle-wa — Contact the IRC directly about enrollment in youth programs if you are a refugee or immigrant family new to the area.
Eastside — North and East King County
Hopelink — Kids Need School Supplies Program
Hopelink is one of the largest social services agencies in north and east King County, with centers in Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, Bellevue, and Carnation. Each August, their Kids Need School Supplies program distributes free backpacks filled with pens, notebooks, and essential supplies through their food market locations. Families must be enrolled in one of Hopelink's food markets to access the school supply distribution — it is not a standalone walk-in event. See https://www.hopelink.org/ — Call the Hopelink center nearest to your home to confirm enrollment requirements and current distribution timing.
Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank — Annual Back to School Resource Fair
179 1st Ave SE, Issaquah, WA 98027 | (425) 392-4123
The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank partners with the Issaquah Schools Foundation each year for an annual resource fair that has gone well beyond supplies — past events have included new backpacks, school supply kits, clothing, free haircuts, and on-site medical care. This is one of the more comprehensive single-day events on the Eastside. Service is primarily for Issaquah School District families experiencing financial need. Call or check their website to confirm the current year's event date and any registration requirements.
Mercer Island Youth and Family Services
2040 84th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040 | (206) 275-7657
Mercer Island Youth and Family Services provides backpacks and school supplies specifically to students in the Mercer Island School District and residents of Mercer Island. This is a geographically restricted program — it is not open to the broader King County public. Call to verify the current year's availability and documentation requirements.
South King County
The Table Church — Back to School Bash, Federal Way
The Table Church has hosted an annual Back to School Bash in the south parking lot of The Commons Mall in Federal Way, growing in scale each year it has run. Past events have offered free backpacks (first-come, first-served with students required to be present), food distribution through a partnership with Convoy of Hope, live music, games, and family entertainment. The event has drawn participation from multiple partner churches and community organizations. Students must be present to receive a backpack. RSVP is encouraged but has not guaranteed supplies — confirm current-year details.
Communities in Schools — Renton
1101 Bronson Way N, Renton, WA 98057 | (425) 430-6658
CIS Renton has offered school supplies to students in the Renton district around the start of the school year. Contact them to confirm the current year's distribution format and whether your student's school participates.
Communities in Schools — Kent
201 1st Ave S, Suite D, Kent, WA 98032 | (253) 867-5637
CIS Kent has distributed supplies and materials around the time school starts, serving Kent district students. Call to confirm current availability and any requirements.
Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services
21415 Renton-Maple Valley Rd, Maple Valley, WA 98038 | (425) 432-8633
Serves lower-income families, immigrants, and working-poor households in the Tahoma and Covington areas of southeast King County with a school supply assistance program. Call to confirm the current program format and any eligibility or geographic requirements.
Fallback and Year-Round Resources
If the programs above don't cover your situation — whether because events have passed, supplies were exhausted, or your area isn't served — calling or texting 211 (Washington 211) will connect you to a referral specialist who tracks smaller church-based drives, neighborhood events, and district-level programs not listed publicly. There are other options too - see the page for free clothing closets in King County. It's a secondary resource, not a first stop, but a useful one when the larger events have ended and school starts soon.
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