Get free school supplies or lend a helping hand with these 4 Pueblo giveaways
It doesn't matter if your student is a kindergartner or 12th grader, the cost of school supplies can quickly add up.
The National Retail Federation estimates that the average family will spend $890.07 on supplies before sending their children back to school in 2023. With the costliness of school supplies being no secret, local community organizations are spending the final days of summer break collecting supplies and distributing them to children in need.
Whether you are looking to donate or receive free school supplies, here are four back-to-school drives and giveaways happening in Pueblo.
Donate school supplies and get two free hours of Zumba at El Centro del Quinto Sol
Those who bring in school supplies to El Centro del Quinto Sol, 609 E. Sixth St., can get two hours of Zumba for free as part of the Back to School Zumbathon on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. Needed school supplies include colored pencils, highlighters, loose-leaf paper, dry erase markers, white glue, glue sticks, crayons, pencils and plastic folders.
For those not into Zumba, donations may be made through Aug. 11 at the Pueblo Parks and Recreation Administration Office at 800 Goodnight Ave., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Halfway Home Pueblo wants to give away 400 backpacks this year
Now in its fifth year, the Halfway Home Pueblo backpack giveaway aims to be bigger than ever in 2023. Halfway Home Pueblo, 803 W. Fourth St., plans to give 400 free backpacks filled with school supplies to local families on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. Items in backpacks may include, but are not limited to crayons, folders, glue sticks and sheets of paper.
In addition to backpacks with supplies, there also will be special raffles for K-12 students. Halfway Home Pueblo is still accepting donations and will be accepting them until Aug. 4. Individuals can drop off supplies for K-12 students or a check at 803 W. Fourth St., Suite B during office hours. Monetary donations also are being accepted on the Halfway Home Pueblo website, halfwayhomepueblo.org.
Food and free school supplies will be available at Servicios de la Raza
Servicios de la Raza, 805 W. Fourth St., will host a school supply giveaway extravaganza outside its facility on Sunday, August 13. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., free backpacks, family resources, school supplies and food boxes will be available. The giveaway is a collaboration between Servicios de la Raza, Kenzi's Causes, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Care and Share Food Bank.
"It's important that anytime that we do an event like this, whether it's a food giveaway or backpacks... we make sure that families feel welcome, and that they're able to receive a service with dignity and respect," said Neva Martinez-Ortega, co-director of the behavioral health department at Servicios de la Raza.
Feeling generous? You can help fill an SUV with school supplies at one of two dealerships
Community members can bring school supplies to one of two local car dealerships between now and Aug. 17. Subaru of Pueblo, 2125 U.S. Highway 50, and Dave Solon Nissan, 2525 U.S. Highway 50, are accepting folders, highlighters, notebooks, lunch boxes, pencils, pens and other supplies. Individuals may come to the dealerships during business hours and drop off items.
Items donated to Subaru of Pueblo will be placed in a Subaru Ascent and those brought to Dave Solon Nissan will be placed in a Nissan Armada. Supplies will be delivered to Pueblo School District 60 and Pueblo County School District 70, who will then distribute them to high-need students.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here are 4 opportunities to give or receive school supplies in Pueblo
