Submitted by North Thurston Education Foundation
As families prepare for a new school year, North Thurston Education Foundation (NTEF) is asking the community to remember the essential items that are often overlooked but make a world of difference for students.
The Forgotten Back-to-School Needs Drive, running July 1 through August 29, provides new athletic shoes, hygiene products, socks, underwear, and other everyday essentials to students in North Thurston Public Schools whose families are experiencing financial hardship.
Every child deserves to walk into school feeling like they belong.
For many students, however, the first day of school brings anxiety instead of excitement. Last year, more than 950 students in North Thurston Public Schools experienced homelessness, while more than 6,000 students lived in households struggling to make ends meet. For these children, back-to-school needs extend far beyond notebooks and backpacks.
“The items we often take for granted—clean socks, properly fitting shoes, deodorant, or shampoo—can make an enormous difference in a student’s confidence,” said Deanna East, Executive Director of North Thurston Education Foundation. “When students feel comfortable and confident, they’re better able to focus on learning and building relationships.”
The Forgotten Back-to-School Needs Drive focuses on the moments that often go unseen: the student who can’t participate comfortably in PE because their shoes no longer fit, the teenager worried about having basic hygiene products, or the child who simply wants a new pair of socks like everyone else.
The Foundation asks donors to give new items because receiving something that is truly their own helps restore dignity, build confidence, and reminds students that their community cares.
Most Needed Items
- Full-size shampoo and conditioner
- Body lotion
- Men’s and women’s deodorant
- Sanitary pads (thin and thick)
- Laundry pods
- Tissues and toilet paper
- Liquid dish soap
- Children’s tennis shoes (boys’ and girls’ sizes 12–13)
- Youth and adult athletic shoes (boys’ and girls’ sizes 1–11)
- Boys’ and girls’ socks and underwear (all sizes through adult large)
Donation Locations
Community members can drop off donations during regular business hours at:
- Vert Chiropractic, 4444 Lacey Blvd SE #E, Lacey, WA 98503
- Café Elite, 130 Marvin Rd SE, Suite 130, Lacey, WA 98503
- Top Rung Brewing Company, 8343 Hogum Bay Ln NE, Lacey, WA 98516
- 4th Dimension Computers, 3315 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
- 1st Security Bank, 601 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, WA 98503
- Capital Place Retirement Community, 700 Black Lake Blvd SW, Olympia, WA 98502 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
· Great Floors, 7800 Martin Way E., Lacey, WA 98516
· Peak Credit Union Lacey Crossroads, 4550 Avery Ln SE, Lacey, WA 98503
· Farrelli’s Pizza, 4870 Yelm Hwy SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Financial gifts are also welcome and allow the Foundation to purchase needed items that are in short supply.
For more information or to make an online donation, visit the North Thurston Education Foundation website.
