Donations can be delivered in Houston, Galveston, and Richmond to prepare backpacks for children and families participating in community programs.
A back-to-school drive collects backpacks, notebooks, pencils and other supplies for students from families served by community programs in the Houston metropolitan area.
Donations can be delivered at four centers located in Houston, Galveston, and Richmond. An online shopping list, monetary contributions and volunteer shifts are also available to organize the materials and distribute the backpacks.
The campaign is coordinated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which provides services in Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend and seven other counties in Southeast Texas.
There are four drop-off points for school supplies
In Houston, materials can be dropped off from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the central office located at 2900 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77006.
The Guadalupe Center, located at 326 S. Jensen Drive, Houston, TX 77003, receives donations on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In Galveston, the drop-off point is at the Beacon of Hope Center, at 4700 Broadway, Suite F-103, Galveston, TX 77551. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Donations in Fort Bend County can be brought to the Mamie George Community Center, located at 1111 Collins Road, Richmond, TX 77469. The center accepts items on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Backpacks, notebooks and pencils are among the items requested in the drive
The drive accepts regular backpacks for elementary students and clear backpacks for older students. Folders, composition notebooks, lined paper, dividers, index cards and pencil cases are also needed.
The list includes traditional or mechanical pencils, black, blue and red ballpoint pens, markers, colored pencils, highlighters, erasers, rulers, school scissors, glue and watercolor sets with brushes.
Boxes of tissues, paper towels, wet wipes, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are also received. Items must be new in order to be included in the backpacks.
People who cannot go to a drop-off center can purchase materials through the campaign’s Amazon list or make a monetary contribution for the purchase of backpacks and supplies.
Drive volunteers will pack and distribute the backpacks
Volunteer shifts include sorting materials, filling backpacks and distributing them among participating children and families in Catholic Charities programs.
Packing takes place at the El Rio Warehouse, in the South Loop area. Distribution is scheduled at Catholic Charities’ main office, at 2900 Louisiana Street, in Midtown Houston.
Volunteer slots are open to individuals, families, business groups, churches and community organizations. Availability varies as shifts fill.
Back-to-school Fair will be August 8 in Midtown
A community back-to-school fair will be held on Saturday August 8, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., at 2900 Louisiana Street.
The event will include free school supplies, community resources, snacks and activities for children and youth. The fair is organized by the St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care program.
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The full list of items, donation options and volunteer registration are available on the back-to-school drive page. Questions about donations or volunteering can be sent to [email protected].
