School Supply Drive

Thank You Donors and Volunteers!

The 2026 School Supply Drive successfully provided backpacks full of school supplies for 128 students at Riverview International Center!

An impressive 128 backpacks were collected during the School Supply Drive which ran from July 26 to August 9!

Thanks to the Wood family, who helped transfer backpacks to storage locations throughout the collection period.

Once backpacks were received, Katie helped sort out the ones that were incomplete…

… and Rose filled those backpacks with extra supplies!

On the morning of August 14, John and Duncan helped carry the last batch of backpacks into Lincoln Road Chapel to be sorted.

After all the backpacks were ready to go, Mark and John loaded the Heart to Heart cargo van.

Then, Mark drove the van to Riverview International Center.

The staff at RIC were overjoyed to receive the donation!

Heart to Heart would like to thank Melody for once again organizing the effort!

How To

1. Grab a flyer! The flyer has a list of items needed and everything else you need to know to participate. They’re available in FC North in the Rose Wing entrance or at FC South in the Coat Room, or you can click below to download a printable PDF!

View Flyer

2. Go shopping. Consider taking advantage of this year’s Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday from Fri, Aug 7 – Sun, Aug 9. Don’t forget to take the list with you when you go to the store!

3. Buy school supplies. Please purchase only the items listed.

4. Pack the school supplies in the backpack. If they don’t all fit, try putting the whole kit in a large shopping or trash bag so the whole kit stays together.

5. Drop off your donation by Sunday August 9:
– At FC North a bin will be available in the Rose Wing entrance from Sun, Jul 26- Sun Aug 9
– At FC South a bin will be available in the Coat Room from Sun Jul 26 – Sun Aug 9

Spread the word
Tell your friends, neighbors, and small groups about this effort. Post on to your social media accounts, and share posts from Heart to Heart, too.

Learn more
Click here to read about the recipient organization, Riverview International Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you collect donations for the Pop-Up Pantry instead of the regular Heart to Heart Drive-Thru?
There are a few reasons we collect donations for Riverview International Center!

First, they have the means to easily store and distribute the items, whereas the drive-thru has limited storage space.
There are many school supply and backpack distribution programs available throughout the city for those in need, including drive-thru clients. A list of Back to School Programs can be found at lssnetworkofhope.org/211centralohio, but even that list is not exhaustive!
This is the one annual drive specifically for the PUP. The regular Drive-Thru uses the majority of the items collected throughout the year, and the Christmas program provides gifts to select families.
Of all the PUP sites, RIC has the largest number of children among their clientele. Those served at the other PUP sites are mostly adults.

Why can’t I donate used items?
For this school supply drive, we accept only new items simply because we believe every child deserves them. The excitement of starting the school year with brand-new supplies, just like their peers, can build confidence and excitement for learning. Our goal is to treat all students as equals, not as recipients of leftovers. We’ve asked donors who have the means to give new items to show these students that they’re valued. Many thrift stores will accept gently used supplies, including First Community’s own Tri-Village Trading Post.

How do you choose the supplies listed?
The vast majority of children served by RIC attend Columbus City Schools. Each year, we review the district’s published list of school supplies needed for grades K-12. While each grade has a slightly different list, the items appearing most frequently across all grades are compiled into our list. To make participation in this drive more accessible, we eliminate the more expensive items (e.g. calculators) from our list. We then confirm with RIC that the items on the list are the most needed, and they will help residents find additional supplies as needed.

PLEASE NOTE

Donors are asked to purchase only the items listed on the flyers. Do not include school supplies not included on the list such as 3-ring binders, protractors, rulers and liquid glue, etc. We also ask you to refrain from donations of tissue boxes, cleaning wipes, and ziptop bags. While these are often requested by teachers, we cannot accommodate these bulkier items.

Adherence to the list means everything will fit into the backpack! This is also a good indicator of backpack size. Donors should keep in mind these backpacks will be used by children as young as 5 and as old as 19. While it’s fun to purchase a bag with a shiny unicorn or your favorite superhero, that limits the number of children that could use it. Neutral, durable backpacks can be used by students for several years.

The list was compiled intentionally, with attention to peripheral details. Your participation within the parameters outlined allows us to effectively manage this project.

Can I make a financial donation instead?
We always welcome financial contributions and appreciate your generosity! However, all monetary donations made to Heart to Heart during this time period will be used for our general operations, rather than this specific project. Significant volunteer time and effort would be required to purchase, receive, and assemble a large number of school supply kits. This is also a fun opportunity for those who like to shop, especially for school supplies. Adults shopping for school supplies with their own children can participate in the selection of items, and adults can make it a learning experience.

Is my donation tax-deductible?
Heart to Heart is a ministry of First Community Church EIN# 31-4383795. The church is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your gift may be tax deductible; please consult your tax professional.