Join us all in July!

The Back 2 School Drive for Douglas County is a collaborative effort between local school districts, non-profits, and community volunteers to meet the school supply needs of students and teachers in our county. This includes public schools in Lawrence (USD497), Eudora (USD491), and Baldwin City (USD348).

The United Way of Kaw Valley, in partnership with the Salvation Army, ECKAN, Eudora Public Schools & Foundation, Baldwin City Public Schools & Education Foundation and Lawrence Public Schools & Foundation invites your participation in the 2026 Douglas County Back2School supply drive from July 1-31!

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers make this county-wide collaboration possible! Check out this year's opportunities on our free volunteer platform at: KawValleyVounteers.org.

Tabling Volunteers Needed – Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 at both Walmart Locations from 10am-6pm

• Share information about the importance of the Douglas County Back2School Drive and how people can donate!

Backpack Stuffing Event – August 4 at The Salvation Army from 9am-3pm

• Help pack backpacks for students assemby-line style!

Have another idea for volunteering? Just send us an email!

COLLECTION

The 2026 Douglas County Back2School Drive has come is gearing up! Community partners and local business will be hosting donation bins for the supply drive for the month of July. We don't yet have a full list of participating locations; check back soon!

United Way of Kaw Valley,  1127 Iowa Street, Lawrence

Arrowhead Hardware, 318 Crimson Avenue, Baldwin City Baldwin City Library, 800 7th St, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Baldwin City Community Center, 712 Chapel St, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Baldwin Chamber Office, 719 High St, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Baldwin City Hall, 803 Eighth St, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Baldwin USD 348 District Office, 715 Chapel St, Baldwin City, KS 66006
Blackhills, 601 N Iowa St, Lawrence, KS 66049
Central Bank, multiple locations  
•    3101 Iowa St, Lawrence, KS 66046 
•    711 W 23rd St, Lawrence, KS 66046
•    300 W 9th St, Lawrence, KS 66044
•    4340 W 6th St, Lawrence, KS 66049

Chick-fil-A, 2735 Iowa Street, Lawrence, KS 66046
Commerce Bank, multiple locations 
•    955 Iowa Street, Lawrence Kansas 66044
•    1500 Wakarusa Dr., Lawrence, KS 66047

Corpus Christi Church, 6001 Bob Billings Pkwy, Lawrence, KS 66049
Dillons at the Crossing, 2205 Iowa St, Lawrence KS, 66046
Eileen's Colossal Cookies, 4931 W. 6th Street, Suite 124, Lawrence, KS 66049
Envista Credit Union, multiple locations 
•    3045 Iowa Street, Lawrence, KS 66046
•    1555 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047

Hershey Salty Snacks, 2425 Venture Park Dr, Lawrence, KS 66046
Hyvee, 3504 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047
Kurt Goeser State Farm Insurance, 1811 Wakarusa Drive, Suite 100, Lawrence KS 66049
Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 718 New Hampshire Street, Lawrence, KS 66044
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 2108 W. 27th St, Suite C, Lawrence, KS 66047
LMH Health, multiple locations 
•    Main Campus, 325 Maine St, Lawrence, KS 66044 - in front of the cafeteria
•    West Campus, 6265 Rock Chalk Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049 - near admissions entrance door

Mainstreet Credit Union, 1001 E. 23rd Street, Lawrence, KS 66046
McGrew Real Estate, 1501 Kasold Dr, Lawrence, KS 66047
Meritrust Credit Union, 650 Congressional Dr, Lawrence, KS 66049
MidAmerican Credit Union, 550 Wakarusa Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049 
Solomon & Associates, 3220 Mesa Way, Suite D, Lawrence KS 66049
Sylvan Learning Center of Lawrence, 721 Wakarusa Dr, Suite 104, Lawrence, KS 66049
Truity Credit Union, multiple locations 
•    1941 Stewart Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66046
•    3400 W 6th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049

Unity Church, 900 Madeline Ln #2630, Lawrence, KS 66049
 

DONATE SUPPLIES

Here are the things our kids need to start the school year! New items only please. (List is subject to change)

• Backpacks
• 2-Pocket Folders (Plastic Preferred)
• Comp Notebooks (Wide Ruled)
• Anti-Bacterial Wipes (Clorox Preferred)
• Headphones (Youth Size) (over-the-ear)
• Kid Scissors
• Pencil Boxes (Plastic)
• Markers (8 or 10 count classic colors)
• Markers (Dry Erase, Black & Blue Preferred)
• Tissues (Boxes)
• Glue Sticks
• Color Pencils (12-Packs)
• Highlighters
• Notebooks, College Ruled
• Earbuds

DONATE MONEY TO BUY SUPPLIES

This year, you can give directly to the school foundation of your choice to help purchase more supplies! Links to donate to Lawrence, Baldwin and Eudora Schools Foundation are below:

Lawrence Schools    
https://lawrenceschoolsfoundation.org/donation-form/

Eudora Schools    
bit.ly/DonateESF (you can put School Supply Drive in the comment box)

Baldwin City Schools    
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=4SDTFM7TRXHS2  (you can add a note after entering the amount you want to donate)

A Note about how supplies are distributed...

No application is required to get supplies, families just need to contact their school to make sure they are on the list. 

In Lawrence, families can attend the Kids Expo on Saturday, August 8 to receive free school supplies! Supplies will be pe-packed according to the school supply lists for the 2026-2027 school year and students will be able to pick out their own backpack to carry their supplies.  If you're unable to attend the Kids Expo, contact your school district to receive supplies. 

In Baldwin and Eudora, contact your school district to receive school supplies at local distribution locations. .

All supplies will be given to families free of charge.