KENTUCKY — Many Kentucky students are preparing for a return to the classroom this year by checking off the items on their school supply list. Whether you know a student in need of supplies, or you want to lend a helping hand, here's a look at back to school supply drives happening across Kentucky.

Louisville

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville, Inc. is accepting donations of backpacks, pens, pencils, calculators, binders and more through July 23. You can find more information, including an Amazon wishlist, on the organization's website.
  • Chef Space's "Kitchen to Classrooms" campaign is raising funds and school supplies for the upcoming school year. The kitchen incubator said it hopes to raise enough supplies to donate over 200 filled backpacks. You can make a monetary donation or drop off new supplies at a list of locations by July 31.
  • Open Arms Children's Health Back to School Bash at Home of the Innocents will provide food, games and free school supplies, while supplies last. The event is taking place July 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Neighborhood Place is hosting a Back to School Drive-Thru Supply Pick Up Saturday, July 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at Valley High School. Neighborhood Place will be hosting more back to school events later this month and in August, with more details to come.
  • Omega Psi Phi Men of Quality Center is hosting a back to school event Friday, July 30 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 2422 W. Chestnut.
  • Olmsted Academy North is also hosting an event Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4530 Bellevue Ave.
  • A mulitude of back to school events will take place in Louisville Aug. 7, a list of which you can find here:

Lexington

  • The YMCA of Central KY is partnering with Fayette County Public Schools to host Back to School Rallies on July 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rallies provide elementary, middle and high school students with free full-size backpacks and school supplies. Sites are drive-thru pick up only. You can register and find which sites are participating online.

Northern Kentucky

  • Nonprofit Northern Kentucky Harvest has 1,008 backpacks containing paper, pens, pencils and other supplies to give out to K-12 students. The organization is asking parents to register by the end of the month via email, text or phone, or call for a distribution event Aug. 14-15. More information about registering is online.
  • Welcome House Northern Kentucky is accepting donations of backpacks, water bottles, folders and more. You can donate on or before Friday, Aug. 6 at the Welcome House main office.

Bowling Green

  • Stuff the Bus SOKY is hosting its annual event Saturday, July 24 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. You can drop off school supply donations that will go to kids in Southern Kentucky.

 

Around Kentucky and Statewide

  • The Kentucky Oaks Mall is hosting a Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive through Aug. 7. You can bring donations to the Kentucky Oaks School Bus located near customer Service in Center Court. All donations will go to McCracken County Public Schools.
  • KVC Kentucky is asking for residents to donate new backpacks, pocket folders, graphic paper and more. Donations can be dropped off at KVC Kentucky locations across the state, or you can make an online donation.

Know of an event we missed? Let us know about any back to school supply drives happening around you by emailing us at spectrumnews1ky@gmail.com.