Waltham donors step up to help students prepare for school

CORRECTION Posted Aug. 16, 3:25 p.m. The Global Thrift backpack event will take place at the store, not at Whittemore Elementary School.

A shiny new school year is about to begin, with Waltham public schools opening Sept. 2. However, back-to-school means new expenses. According to the National Retail Federation, families will spend an average of $570 per school-aged child on clothing, shoes and school supplies this year, driving many to worry about how inflation and tighter wallets might hinder their ability to buy them.

But in Waltham, families in need are not unseen. Waltham nonprofits and businesses are busy setting up programs to help families get school supplies and clothes. 

“Providing basic supplies like notebooks and pencils may seem small,” noted Capt. Marsha Barter of the Salvation Army of Waltham, “but for the families we serve, they’re powerful tools that help children thrive in school.”

Here’s a round-up of what Walthamites are doing.

Upcoming Events

On Aug. 10, the Salvation Army is hosting its annual Tools for School: Backpack and School Supply Giveaway for families from Waltham, Watertown and Newton from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, occurring at 33 Myrtle St. and sponsored by the Lions Club, will also provide snacks, activities and other giveaways, as well as long-term wraparound resources for families. For the event, the Salvation Army fills 800 backpacks with school supplies. Adults need to accompany their children and show ID and the children’s birth certificates.

On Aug. 25, Global Thrift will provide 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for families from Whittemore Elementary School. The event will be held at Global Thrift from 12 to 2 p.m. Global Thrift is also offering Whittemore families additional supplies, new clothing, books and toys. It’s the second year for the used goods store to help local students.

On Aug. 27, Village Bank is holding its second annual back-to-school event at Embassy Park, behind 220 Moody St., from 2 to 6 p.m. The bank will distribute about 200 to 250 backpacks. The event also features free kids’ haircuts from MOBAR Cuts, face painting, music from DJ Shaw, an ice cream truck and free refreshments.

Healthy Waltham will be giving away backpacks and other school supplies at its biweekly food distribution at 101 School St., either Aug. 27 or Sept. 10; check its social media channels for details. Preregistration is encouraged.

How other groups are helping

Potter Place Clubhouse is collecting backpacks and other school supplies for underprivileged Waltham children through the end of August. The Clubhouse offers a daytime meeting space for people over age 18 with formal mental health diagnoses, with the goal of “recovery through work.” The collection is the first in a revived effort to have regular drives, according to community coordinator Gianni Storti, reflecting Potter Place’s commitment to give back to the community while fostering meaningful service or work opportunities for Clubhouse members.

The recipient of the Clubhouse donations, the Waltham Partnership for Youth, has run similar programs for four years, distributing backpacks and other school supplies throughout the Waltham public schools. In addition, supplies are available through WPY’s Welcome Center, which serves immigrant families new to the district.  

Another local source of help is the nonprofit Cradles to Crayons Boston, which supplies 70,000 backpacks annually to more than 130 nonprofits and school districts across the state.

This past spring, the Boston Heroes Club at Chapel Hill–Chauncy Hall School in Waltham raised almost $4,000 — four times more than expected — for backpacks for indigent students. The club organized a week of fundraising and community events at the school, according to club founder and president Benjamin Mulderry. Funds were donated to Youth Villages’ Backpack Heroes Campaign, which distributed the supplies to needy kids at risk of foster care throughout New England. 

How Waltham Times readers can help

Potter Place Clubhouse is collecting backpacks and new school supplies (notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners) at 15 Vernon St., weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., through the end of August. Call  781-894-5302 for more information.

Healthy Waltham is accepting donations of new backpacks and other new school supplies such as pencil cases, crayons, and spiral notebooks for its event. Email info@healthy-waltham.org to arrange drop-off.

Cradles to Crayons accepts new and like-new clothing and shoes for children of all ages, as well as new school supplies and hygiene items year-round.

For more information about Boston Heroes Club and its partner organization, Boston Independent Schools and Camps (BISC) Initiative, visit the website.