Where to donate school supplies in the GTA

September is a time of excitement and bright beginnings as children and youth head back to school, but for many families struggling to make ends meet, it can be stressful. 

From backpacks, notebooks and various supplies, equipping kids for the school year can carry a hefty price tag. And as the cost-of-living continues to rise, many parents and caregivers are forced to make difficult decisions between food on the table and other basic necessities.  

Donating school supplies is more than providing pens and pencils — it’s also an investment into building stronger communities where everyone can thrive.  

Thousands of children and their families live in poverty across our region. Multiple factors related to poverty can impact how children and youth participate in school and their ability to learn: food insecurity, unstable housing, lack of access to resources, mental health challenges and barriers related to their race or identity. 

Which is why it is so important to close opportunity gaps, and why United Way Greater Toronto and its network of agencies across our region work to meet basic needs and support youth development in the interconnected areas of wellbeing.   

Donating school supplies is a simple act of kindness and just one way to help ensure youth have the wraparound supports they need to realize their full potential. 

Here are three places to donate school supplies to support local students and youth.  

The types of items that students need for back-to-school:  

To help elementary and high-school students start off the school year with confidence, donate new school supplies to one of these GTA agencies: 

Rest Centres 
Where: Peel
What they do: Rest Centres support racialized youth to transition out of housing insecurity in Peel, where hidden homelessness is a very real issue. Secure housing means that young people have the foundation to focus on other aspects of their lives, including their education, mental health and job prospects.  
How to donate: Email Nazish Khan at nazish.khan@restcentres.org or call 905-863-1118 ext. 116 to coordinate your donation. 

Malvern Family Resource Centre  
Where: Scarborough 
What they do: This Community Hub connects, engages and takes collaborative action to support the neighbourhood, with everything from sports programming to newcomers and seniors’ programs. They serve more than 16,000 people across Malvern and Scarborough each year, including after-school programming, summer camps, academic support and mental health programs for young people. 
How to donate: Email Breshna Hellali at admin@mfrc.org or call (416) 284-4184 Ext: 244 to coordinate.

Community Living York South 
Where: York 
What they do: Community Living York South provides support services to children, youth, adults and seniors (and their families) who have an intellectual disability and live in southern York Region. This organization empowers people living with intellectual disability to live, learn, work and participate in their community. 
How to donate: Email Palak Bhatia at pbhatia@communitylivingyorksouth.ca for how to donate.  

ACSA Community Services 
Where: Scarborough 
What they do: ACSA Community Services provides vital programs like youth empowerment initiatives, emergency food and housing services, and newcomer supports to help individuals and families thrive. 
How to donate: Email Eric Cheung at ceric@agincourtcommunityservices.com for more details on how you can donate supplies.