You Can Help Us Pack the Bus!

As the school year approaches, many families face the challenge of purchasing the supplies their children need to be successful in the classroom. The South Shore YMCA is proud to host Pack the Bus, a community-wide school supply drive that helps ensure every child begins the school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

Every backpack, notebook, and box of crayons donated makes a meaningful difference for local students and their families.

How You Can Help

We’re collecting new school supplies for students of all ages. Donation bins will be located in the lobbies of the Hale Family YMCA and Emilson YMCA throughout the collection period.

Suggested donations include:

Classroom Essentials

• Facial tissues (boxes)
• Paper towels (rolls)
• Disinfecting wipes (Clorox/Lysol)
• Hand sanitizer
• Liquid hand soap
• Baby wipes
• Gallon & quart/sandwich Ziploc bags

Everyday Classroom Supplies (Grades K–5)

• #2 pencils (pre-sharpened)
• Crayola crayons, 24-count box
• Colored pencils
• Washable/broad-line markers
• Black Expo dry-erase markers
• Glue sticks (regular & jumbo)
• Kid-size scissors
• Erasers (pink block & pencil-top)
• Highlighters
• Soft/fabric pencil pouches or cases
• Hand-held pencil sharpeners
• Wide-ruled spiral notebooks (1-subject)
• Composition notebooks (100-page)
• 2-pocket plastic folders, assorted colors
• 1″ – 2″ three-ring binders, assorted colors
• Binder dividers/tabs
• 3-hole-punched loose-leaf paper

Middle School Specific (Grades 6–8)

• 1″ – 2″ three-ring binders, assorted colors
• Loose-leaf filler paper (wide-ruled)
• Binder dividers/tabs
• Composition notebooks (100-page)
• 1-subject spiral notebooks, assorted colors
• Thin Expo dry-erase markers
• Black Sharpie markers (fine & ultra-fine)
• Highlighters
• Scientific/TI-30XIIS calculators
• Basic 8-digit calculators
• Combination locks for lockers
• Index cards
• 2-pocket folders, assorted colors

Tech Accessories (Grades 3 and up, most schools)

• Wired headphones/earbuds
• Computer mouse (wired or wireless)

Other Items

• Play-Doh (Kindergarten)
• Crayola watercolor paint sets (Kindergarten, Grade 2)
• Rulers (inches & centimeters)
• Sticky notes/Post-its
• Reusable water bottles (Grade 2)

Where to Donate

Donation bins are available at:

Hale Family YMCA
79 Coddington Street, Quincy, MA

Simply place your new, unused school supplies in one of the designated Pack the Bus collection bins.

Strengthening Our Community Together

At the South Shore YMCA, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. By participating in Pack the Bus, you’re helping remove barriers for local students and giving families one less thing to worry about as they prepare for a new school year.

Together, we can make sure every child starts the school year equipped for success.

Thank you for supporting local students and helping us Pack the Bus!