Central Minnesota - School Supplies - Statewide 2026

Information is listed below for residents of the following counties: Benton, Crow Wing, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright. If a program is not listed in a specific area, individuals should contact their school district's social worker for possible assistance with school supplies.

ANYONE

CLOSED BeMobile's 13th Annual Backpack Giveaway

• Distribution: Tuesday, July 21st - Thursday, July 23rd
• Eligibility: Open to all families in need of free school supplies and a backpack
• Registration: Walk-in, first come-first served until supplies last
• Where: Visit the https://bemobile.com/13thannualbackpackgiveaway/for participating BeMobile Verizon stores
• Description: Provides a free backpack filled with school supplies. There is a limit of 3 backpacks per family to ensure that as many families as possible can benefit from this event. Every guest who picks up a backpack or visits a BeMobile Verizon store during the event dates can enter to win a $500 shopping spree to help with back-to-school needs. CLOSED

CLOSED 2026 United Way of Central Minnesota - School Supply Drive

• Intake: Visit https://www.unitedwayhelps.org/school-supply-drive for information on the list of items most needed or to make monetary donations. School supplies can be dropped off at the following locations from now until Friday, August 14^th:

United Way of Central Minnesota

921 1st Street NorthSt. Cloud, MN 563038 am – 4 pm Monday-Thursday

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union2835 West Saint Germain StreetSt Cloud, MN 56301

SCHEELS (Customer Service Desk)30 Waite Avenue North, Suite 94, Waite Park, MN 56301

• Description: Accepts donations of school supplies and monetary donations to buy bulk school supplies that will be distributed to students in need. All school supplies will be donated to schools and youth programs around Central Minnesota. CLOSED

CLOSED Wireless Zone 2026 Backpack Giveaway

• Distribution: Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 1 pm till supplies last
• Eligibility: Open to all
• Registration: Walk-in first come-first served. No registration is needed.
• Where: Visit https://wirelesszone.com/backpack-giveaway/ to find a participating store
• Description: Stop by a store for a free backpack filled with school supplies. While supplies last. One backpack per child. ONLY AT PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS CLOSED

CLOSED Zimmerman Community Church - Block Party and Backpack Giveaway

• Address: 12567 5th Avenue North, Suite 200, Zimmerman, MN 55398
• Phone: (763)308-5780
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://zcchurch.org
• Serves: Open to all
• Eligibility: Parents with elementary or Junior High students
• Intake: Walk in
• Distribution: 5 pm – 8 pm Wednesday, August 19th
• Description: Provides food, games, bounce house, and free backpacks filled with school supplies while supplies last CLOSED

BENTON COUNTY

CROSS Center of Benton County

• Address: 150 4th Avenue Foley, MN, 56329
• Serves: Children in grades K – 12 in need of school supplies who are residents of Benton County who attend Foley Public Schools Independent School District 51
• Registration: Walk in during the month of August from 1 pm – 7 pm Monday; 11 am – 3 pm Thursday
• Description: Provides free backpacks and school supplies

SHERBURNE COUNTY

CLOSED Community Backpack Event – Partnership of Main Street Family Services Family Resource Center, the Boys and Girls Club, CAER Food Shelf, and the Salvation Army

• Address: Boys and Girls Club, 905 6th Street NW, Elk River, MN 55330
• Serves: Residents of Sherburne County and/or Intermediate School District 728
• Eligibility: Families with school-age children in grades K-12
• Registration: Visit website to register https://forms.office.com/r/HPXhGmjqYq
• Distribution: 11 am – 3 pm Saturday, August 8th
• Description: Families will receive a backpack filled with school supplies (while supplies last) and have access to a variety of free resources and services, including: Backpack and school supply distribution, shoe distribution (while supplies last), fresh produce distribution, and a Community resource fair featuring local organizations. CLOSED

WRIGHT COUNTY

CROSS Center of Benton County

• Address: 150 4th Avenue Foley, MN, 56329
• Serves: Children in grades K – 12 in need of school supplies who are residents of Benton County who attend Foley Public Schools Independent School District 51
• Registration: Walk in during the month of August from 1 pm – 7 pm Monday; 11 am – 3 pm Thursday
• Description: Provides free backpacks and school supplies

CLOSED Project Pencils

• Serves: Children who attend a public school in Wright County
• Eligibility: Individuals and families with children who are in Kindergarten – 12th grade^
• Registration: Visit the website https://www.projectpencils.com/request.html to complete a separate form for each student needing the supplies. Only one parent can request supplies for the student
• Distribution: Pick-up location will be in St. Michael and the address will be sent via the confirmation e-mail. Pick up dates will be 9 am – 1 pm Saturday, August 15^th and 4 pm – 8 pm Tuesday, August 18^th
• Description: Provides school supplies CLOSED