Drive the Change: How You Can Help Local Students

Affordability isn’t just a political buzzword. It’s a very real issue for both families and school districts as costs rise and budgets tighten.

So, whether you are looking to support a student preparing for the upcoming academic year or you have purchased surplus supplies and want to share them with the community, this curated list of school supply drives offers an excellent opportunity to connect resources with those in need.

Plymouth Community United Way is the primary organizer of local back-to-school drives this summer, serving students in Canton and Plymouth. Their drop-off locations include:

• Canton Public Library: Acts as an official summer collection site where you can drop off new supplies in the lobby through the end of July.
• Plymouth District Library: Also serves as a public drop-off site through late summer.
• Plymouth Community United Way Main Office: Donations are accepted directly at their office.

Accepted items include:

• Pencils
• Dry-erase markers
• Crayons
• Large glue sticks
• Duotang fastener folders
• Composition notebooks (not spiral bound)
• Facial tissue
• Ziploc bags in quart or gallon size

St. Thomas a'Becket Catholic Church runs an annual School Supplies Drive in Canton. They partner with the local Knights of Columbus to assemble fully stocked backpacks for families experiencing financial hardship. Accepted items include:

• New backpacks
• Personal-sized hand sanitizer
• 2-pocket folders
• Composition notebooks 
• 70-page spiral notebooks (wide-ruled)
• 1-inch binders
• Packs of wide-ruled notebook paper
• #2 pencils
• Pencil sharpeners with cover
• Large rectangular pink erasers
• Pens (blue, black and red)
• Glue sticks
• 24-count packs of Crayola crayons
• 10-count packs of Crayola broad line markers
• 12-count packs of Crayola colored pencils
• Safety school scissors
• Multicolor highlighters
• Dry-erase markers (e.g., Expo markers)
• 12" ruler with inches and centimeters
• Zippered pencil cases

The B.L.O.C.K. Youth Service Squad, Canton's youth program, organizes summer collection events. They utilize drop spots at the Summit on the Park and the Village Arts Factory.

Additional Ways You Can Help

The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center in Canton accepts household and school goods. They also directly support the Plymouth-Canton school ecosystem with community aid.

Canton Community Foundation focuses primarily on providing clean school clothing to students in need. This bank is supported by the Plymouth Canton Educational Foundation and accepts financial contributions explicitly earmarked for local student resources.