2023 Back-to-School Drive: Flash drives, backpacks in high demand

Aug 2, 2023

You can help local children succeed by supporting The Salvation Army’s 2023 Back-to-School Drive. 

Donations of new backpacks, notebooks, crayons, rulers, and other supplies will be accepted Aug. 1-19 at Salvation Army Worship and Service Centers across Minnesota and North Dakota, and also at Hy-Vee locations in the Twin Cities metro area. (A complete list of Hy-Vee locations is at bottom.)

You can also help by donating online. The Salvation Army will use your gift to purchase school supplies for kids in your community. Just $25 buys a new backpack for a local child in need. 

This year, backpacks and Flash Drive storage devices are in extra-high demand. Please donate one or more of these items if your budget allows. 

Your donations will help people like Lauren in Brooklyn Park. Money is tight for thousands of families like hers, as back-to-school expenses have increased nearly 28 percent since 2019 while wage increases have remained idle. 

“We appreciate this service so, so much,” Lauren said. 

Thousands of other families are feeling the same financial pressure. With your help, The Salvation Army can offer relief.  

“As inflation continues, many local families do not have enough money to pay for basic needs items – let alone school supplies,” said Lt. Col. Randall Polsley, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “Providing school supplies to these families will allow their children to start the school year focused and prepared.”

Please help today by donating online, or drop off new school supplies at your local Salvation Army or these Hy-Vee locations:

  • Brooklyn Park: 9409 Zane Ave. N.
  • Cottage Grove: 7280 E. Point Douglas Rd. S.
  • Eagan: 1500 Central Park Commons Dr. 
  • Lakeville: 16150 Pilot Knob Rd. 
  • Maple Grove: 18755 70th Way N.
  • Maplewood: 2501 White Bear Ave.
  • New Hope: 8200 42nd Ave. N.
  • Oakdale: 7180 10th St. N.
  • Plymouth: 16705 County Rd. 24
  • Robbinsdale: 3505 Bottineau Blvd.
  • Savage: 6150 Egan Dr. 
  • Shakopee: 1451 Adams St. S. 
  • Spring Lake Park: 8155 Highway 65 NE

Please join The Salvation Army by giving a donation or signing up to volunteer. With your help, we can show families in need that there is Love Beyond their most difficult hardships. 


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