Tools for School brings together community agencies, educational institutions, corporate supporters, the general public and the media for the purpose of a common goal – to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 whose families have limited resources. In some areas of the Capital Region the need for backpacks filled with school supplies is as high as three in 10 students.

Tools for School works under the collaboration of a volunteer advisory committee which consists of at least one representative from each of the 13 participating school divisions. Planning and coordination for the program is on-going year round. Over the past 17 years the program has maintained distribution to four standardized grade categories (Kindergarten – Grade 2, Grade 3 – Grade 6, Junior High and Senior High) with a list of school supplies compatible with all 14 participating school divisions in the Alberta Capital Region. For the start of the 2012 school year, over 9,736 school kits were discreetly and respectfully distributed to students in need. The 2013 Tools for School Campaign runs from July 16th to August 31st. For more information contact jdermott@myunitedway.ca

Make a Donation of Supplies

The annual Tools for School campaign which encourages the community at large to make contributions in support of the program runs from July through September. Donations can be made at any Staples location.

Make a Monetary Donation

Dollars donated to the Tools for School program are used to purchase program approved school supplies when the need is not met through product donations. Cheques should be made payable to ‘United Way of the Alberta Capital Region’ indicating Tools for School in the memo line. Monetary donation can be can be dropped off at or mailed to: United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, 15132 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, AB. T5P 3Y3.

Monetary donations can also be made during a purchase at any Staples location in the Alberta Capital Region.

Get Started

To receive an approved school supplies list contact: jdermott@myunitedway.ca

For information about how to receive supplies, contact your child’s school (principal or administrative assistant) at the time of registration. For more information dial 211 in Edmonton (or 482-INFO outside of Edmonton) or contact Jenn Dermott.