The Anne Arundel County Government consists of Departments and Offices as well as Boards & Commissions. These entities work together to serve our Citizen's needs.
With almost 54,000 businesses, Anne Arundel County is a major hub of commerce and development. With a $35 billion economy, low taxes, a vast multi-modal transportation system, highly skilled workforce and excellent educational institutions, Anne Arundel County is the premier location to do business.
Remember the excitement of the first day of school? Your new notebooks, pencils and backpack? Share that memory by assisting a child who needs help getting ready for the next school year.
There are over 22,000 children in Anne Arundel County who qualify for Federal Lunch assistance, an indication that the children’s families are low income. In 1989 the Department of Social Services began this program and partnered shortly thereafter with the local Board of Education to help children who attend the County’s public elementary schools.
Here’s how the program works:
Eligible students are referred to the program by school guidance counselors and DSS social workers.
Donors (individuals, churches, organizations and businesses) are matched with children in need of school supplies and are provided a list of the required supplies. The donors purchase supplies and backpacks and deliver the items to the Office of School Counselor at the elementary schools the 2nd week in August.
On average, school supplies cost between $50 and $65, depending upon the child’s grade in school.
Due to the pandemic our Back to School program will be operating a little differently this year. This year our primary focus in assisting students will be those students that are in grades 6-8; our Middle School and High School students grades 9-12. We will be providing for students that are directly associated with the Dept. of Social Services.
This year we will not be matching donors, directly to students due to social distancing guidelines; in addition to the fact that it has not been determined when/if schools will re-open.
As you recall in the past, back packs and school supplies were dropped off directly to elementary schools.
The following are ways that you can continue to donate to the Back to School program.
We are accepting donations via checks; made out to the DSS Back to School program, the address to send checks to is: Community Initiatives/Back to School Program, 80 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Or, you can click on the following link: AAC Back to School Program to sign up to make a Pay Pal donation.
All monies received will then be utilized to purchase gift cards to Target, Walmart and Office Depot. This will allow families to purchase the school items for their children for the 2020-2021 school year. As well as other items students may need such as headphones, lap boards, and accessories for their laptops for virtual learning.
Your donation is tax-deductible.
Since 1989, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has strived to provide a backpack and school supplies to every child in need. We continue with this year’s program; even though we recognize the changes in the programming due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We still thrive to assist those children in need at this time.
