The City of Denver, Denver Public Schools (DPS) and the Denver Public Schools Foundation are teaming up to collect back-to-school supplies for schools that serve a high percentage of students from low income households. Denver residents, families and business owners are encouraged to donate school supplies as part of the Raise Your Hand for DPS Students: School Supply Drive.
About 70% of students in DPS qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch, an indicator of poverty. Back to school time often presents a financial challenge for low-income families. Many parents have to make tough decisions; school supplies or food? Backpacks or transportation? The average K-12 parent will spend $100 per student on school supplies this fall, which can be overwhelming and impossible to fulfill for some of our families. Having the necessary tools and supplies helps children come to school ready to learn and be successful.
The school supply drive is part of the Raise Your Hand for DPS Students movement, a large-scale engagement campaign, intended to exponentially grow the community of DPS supporters. Our students are our future, and we must engage more people in our mission. With your help, we can expand the Raise Your Hand movement and reach our vision: Every Child Succeeds.
Donated school supplies can be delivered at Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s Inauguration Community Celebration at the Botanical Gardens on Monday, July 20 at 6 p.m. Look for the yellow school bus outside the main entrance to drop off supplies.
Supplies can also be donated during Denver Days on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd.
Denver students are in need of the following school supplies:
Most Needed Supplies
- A sturdy backpack with wide straps
- No. 2 pencils
- Loose-leaf notebook paper (college and wide ruled needed)
- Spiral-bound notebook (college and wide rule needed)
- A three-ring binder
Additional School Supplies
- Glue sticks
- Scissors (blunt ended for younger kids, pointed for older ones)
- Ballpoint pens
- Colored pencils
- A pencil sharpener (hand-held with a top to collect shavings)
- A large pink eraser (The old-fashioned ones)
- Washable markers
- Highlighters
- Pocket folders
- A ruler with English and metric measurements
- Box of crayons
- Composition book