Join Us in Sending Children
Back to a Safe and Beautified School with the Tools They Need to Succeed
All children should feel safe, welcomed and equipped for success on their first day back to school. But more than 63% of students start the school year without the necessary supplies¹ and 90% of educators spend money out of their own pockets to provide supplies for under-resourced students.²
That’s why we work to support our youth.
You can join us in making a difference for Central Alabama students through our annual Back-to-School Campaign.
How you can help
1. Donate Backpacks and Supplies for our Backpack Drive.
United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) will host a backpack drive from July 8th through 26th to gather backpacks and school supplies for students in need. See all the options for donation below and explore our school supply list at the bottom of this page to see the items in greatest need.
Select from our Amazon Wishlist
Purchase backpacks and supplies via our Amazon Wishlist.
Make a Financial Contribution
Simply visit the online donation page to ensure that your donation goes directly to the Back-to-School campaign.
Shop & Donate Locally
Purchase backpacks and school supplies locally, then drop them off at any of our designated sites.
2. Volunteer for a Back-to-School Beautification project.
United Way of Central Alabama will organize Back-to-School Beautification projects from July 15th through 20th. Be part of transforming school campuses into vibrant, inspiring spaces where children can thrive. Your time and talent make a lasting impact.
Volunteer
Find a Back-to-School Beautification Project and register to volunteer on InVOLve.
3. Become a Back-to-School Sponsor.
Our Back-to-School Sponsorship opportunities offer a variety of ways to make a meaningful impact:
School Beautification Sponsorship – $1,000
- Covers the cost of equipment needed for a school cleanup, including exterior and interior work requested by the school.
- Sponsorship includes corporate recognition in all media surrounding the event.
- Sponsor company has first access to volunteering for the school clean-up event itself.
Backpack Drive Sponsorship – $1,500
- Covers the cost of 100 fully packed backpacks.
- Sponsorship includes corporate recognition in all media surrounding the event and branding that would be included in the backpacks, materials, etc.
- Sponsor has first access to supply volunteers for packing donated backpacks.
- Sponsor has first access to be present to distribute the backpacks to the school/organization and the students receiving them.
To become a sponsor or get further information, contact Rachael Upton at rachael.upton@uwca.org.
Sponsor
Sponsor a School Beautification Project or Backpack Drive to invest in a brighter future for Central Alabama students.
School Supply List
- Clear plastic and mesh backpacks
- Composition notebook
- Packs of loose-leaf paper (wide ruled)
- 3-prong plastic folders
- Packs of pre-sharpened #2 pencils (12-pack preferred)
- Pack of red pens
- Student scissors
- Box of crayons (12 or 24 pack preferred)
- Box of colored pencils
- Box of markers
- Pack of permanent markers/Sharpie
- Liquid glue
- Glue sticks
- Quart-size and gallon-sized Ziplock bags
- Antibacterial hand sanitizer
- Index cards (3×5 and 5×8)
- Dry erase markers
- Large pencil pouches
- Packs of white copy paper
- Packs of cardstock paper (multicolor)
- Paper towel rolls
- Boxes of facial tissue
- 1″ and 1.5″ binders with clear plastic cover and pockets
- Plastic binder dividers
- Clorox wipes
- Highlighters
- Packs of eraser caps
- Block erasers
- Plastic pocket folders with 3 holes
- Sheet protectors
- Baby wipes
- Lysol
Donation Drop-Off Locations
By county, physical drop-off locations include:
- Blount – Blount County Chamber of Commerce (110 1st Ave E in Oneonta)
- Chilton – YMCA of Chilton County (405 Ollie Avenue in Clanton)
- Jefferson – United Way of Central Alabama (3620 8th Avenue S in Birmingham)
- Shelby – Shelby Emergency Assistance (160 Shoshone Drive in Montevallo)
- St. Clair – St. Clair County DHR (213 Fox Hollow Boulevard in Pell City)
- Walker – Chamber of Commerce of Walker County (204 19th E, Suite101 in Jasper)
Together, let’s equip students for success and brighten their educational journey!
Learn More About How UWCA Supports YouthLatest News about How UWCA Helps Students
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United Way and AKA Collaborate to Prepare Fairfield Students for the New School Year
In partnership with United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA), the Upsilon Eta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. recently hosted a Back-to-School Bash on a Saturday at
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Young Philanthropists Assemble Backpacks Full of School Supplies for Students
UWCA’s Young Philanthropists Society made a significant impact by assembling backpacks with essential school supplies for students in need.
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United Way Grants to Nine More Childcare Centers Expand and Improve Early Learning in Central Alabama
Let there be light. Inside what used to be three dimly lit storage rooms at the former North Highland School in Jasper, two girls sit reading books in a totally
Sources
¹ Kids In Need Foundation, “Our Impact.” www.kinf.org.
² National Education Association, “Out-of-Pocket Spending on School Supplies Adds to Strain on Educators.” www.nea.org.