Back to School Program

The Back to School Program is a partnership between the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services (DSS) and Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Those students that are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and or Temporary Cash Assistance benefits are the children/students prioritized for the Back to School Program.

For more than 40 years we have assisted elementary school children in low income families start the school year with the necessary supplies to be successful in school. There are over 36,000 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.

• 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 $75, depending upon the child’s grade in school. 

We are grateful to the generous donors who fulfilled all current backpack and school supply needs for elementary school students referred to us by AACPS. At this time, all backpack requests have been matched, and we are not accepting additional backpack or school supply donations for this program.

Our partnerships with local schools continue throughout the year to support middle school students and children connected to foster care and family preservation. For questions about other ways to support these efforts, please email us at community.programs@maryland.gov. 

For more information, contact the Volunteer Office at (410) 269-4462. 

• Donation School Supply List
• Back to School Donation Program Brochure

Donating to Back to School Program 

Donations will be accepted by PayPal or check.