Southeastern Minnesota - School Supplies - Statewide 2026

Information will be listed here when it becomes available for residents of the following counties: Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, and Wabasha. 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 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

DODGE COUNTY

CLOSED Ready, Set, Learn of Dodge County

• Address: 601 Clay Street, Mantorville, MN 55955
• Phone: (316)390-5368
• Email: [email protected]
• Serves residents of Dodge County
• Eligibility: Children in pre-school through grade 12 who are living or going to school in Dodge County
• Registration: Print application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DjQDLs1AaB7EzRsI9D4KYVcjXWtEMg4g/view?fbclid=IwY2xjawSdL-VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_CJCSMIozNY9j2tG9Q4hQp2NtPCkMiMjUovzf9i2DYerSvanmCox-9Hoiy4_aem_gjWLItjvsoug6yyszrBdeA or pick up/drop off at:

• 601 Clay Street, Mantorville
• Saint John’s Lutheran Church, 301 8th Avenue NW, Kasson
• Ziebell Law Office, 13 West Main Street, Suite 4, Kasson
• Applications open now until Monday, July 27 at 5 pm

• Documents: Application form
• Distribution: 5 pm – 7 pm, Monday August 10 and Tuesday August 11
• Description: School supplies and backpacks CLOSED

OLMSTED COUNTY

​CLOSED Rochester People's Action Community Back to School Block Party and Parade

• Address: Soldiers Field Park, Rochester, MN 55902
• Serves: Rochester
• Intake: Walk in 12 noon - 4 pm Saturday, August 15
• Description: Provides free school supplies, food, music, games, and local vendors CLOSED

RICE COUNTY

​CLOSED Community Action Center - Operation Backpack

• Address: Northfield Community Resource Center 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN 55057
• Phone: (507)664-3550
• Eligibility: Children in grades Pre K - 12 enrolled in Northfield School District who could benefit from a free resource
• Registration: Call or visit webiste online at https://communityactioncenter.org/school-supplies/ to register between Thursday, July 16 - Wednesday, August 12
• Distribution: August 19, 2026
• Description: Provides free backpacks filled with school supplies to students ​CLOSED