SPUR's Student Success FAQ
WHAT IS THE STUDENT SUCCESS BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE?
The SPUR Student Success Back-to-School Drive provides new backpacks & school essentials to children in Lynn, Marblehead, Salem, and Swampscott.
HOW ARE CHILDREN SELECTED WHO RECEIVE BACKPACKS?
Working closely with professionals who are familiar with the children’s and family needs, local school counselors, food pantry directors, social workers, and homeless education liaisons submit requests for children who are faced with the reality of beginning the year without the required supplies needed for school.
Together we can change this! We can SPUR Student Success.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Sponsor a backpack and school supplies. We have worked hard to secure wholesale pricing and will bulk order a shipment for delivery to our office. Opportunities will be available to help us fill each backpack and write personalized notes to each child beginning August 6th. Program coordinators will then pick up the backpacks filled with supplies and distribute them to their children before the first day of school.
OPTIONS TO SPONSOR A BACKPACK ARE:
Purchase a backpack and supplies for a 9th - 12th grader
Purchase a backpack and supplies for a 7th - 8th grader
Purchase a backpack and supplies for a 4th - 6th grader
Purchase a backpack and supplies for a K - 3rd grader
Purchase school supplies
Purchase a backpack
HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT THIS DRIVE?
SHARE our FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM posts, and spread the word about our organization to your friends, family, and colleagues. For a successful Student Success Back-to-School Drive - getting others involved is essential.
VOLUNTEER at one of our Backpack Filling Workshops. Our sessions start on Saturday, August 6th, and go through Thursday, August 18th. We firmly believe in making opportunities for hands-on involvement as realistic as possible, at as wide of an age range as possible. We have added social distancing guidelines to ensure the safety of all people involved.
I WOULD LIKE TO HELP BUT CAN’T COMMIT TO SPONSORING AN ENTIRE BACKPACK. CAN I STILL HELP?
Most definitely! We understand everyone's financial ability to give varies and want to say that your involvement, on any level, will be a huge impact. If you cannot commit to sponsoring an entire backpack, consider making a tax-deductible MONETARY DONATION to SPUR so that we may purchase items as needed for the drive; ask your dentist for a donation of toothpaste and toothbrushes, or mail us a gift card that we can use to purchase healthy snacks for the students.
CAN A GROUP OR OFFICE SPONSOR A BACKPACK(S)?
Sponsoring backpacks can be a great team-building activity. Consider encouraging your workplace, social circle, classroom, sports team, school club, or other groups to team up and sponsor one or more backpacks. Also, consider joining up as a team for one of our Backpack Filling Workshops from August 6th - 18th. Make it fun. Make it meaningful.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS SPUR WORKS WITH THROUGH THE DRIVE?
SPUR provides support to students at over 20 partner agencies, including Anchor Food Pantry, Swampscott; Brown School, Marblehead; Centerboard; CFFS, Salem; CFFS, Lynn; Collins Middle School, Salem; DCF, Lynn; Girls Inc; Glover School, Marblehead; Harbor: Communities Overcoming Violence; Horace Mann School, Salem; Ford School, Lynn; Life Scene FCS; Marblehead Community Charter; Marblehead High School; METCO; Salem Academy; Swampscott Public Schools; Veterans Middle School; Village School, Marblehead; Youth Harbor.
CAN I RECEIVE A TAX RECEIPT FOR MY DONATION?
SPUR, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that complies with IRS regulations. If you sponsor a backpack or make a monetary donation a tax statement will be provided in January of 2023.
WHAT GOES IN THE BACKPACKS?
We have worked closely with teachers and students to determine what supplies are needed for the school year. Please see the entire list for each of the 4 groups below:
K-3RD GRADE SUPPLIES
#2 Pencils (Pkg of 12)
2 Glue sticks
2 Marble Composition Notebooks (Wide Ruled)
2 Pocket Folders (w/o Prongs)
Construction Paper (Kindergarten only)
Crayola Crayons (24 ct)
Glue (4 oz bottle)
Hand Sanitizer (2 oz)
Crayola Washable Markers
Pencil Box
Pencil Sharpener
Pencil Top Erasers
Pink Eraser
Ruler (3rd Grade only)
Safety scissors (5" blunt)
Watercolor paint (Kindergarten only)
4TH-6TH GRADE SUPPLIES
#2 Pencils (Pkg of 12)
2 Glue Sticks
2 Marble Composition Notebooks (Wide Ruled)
2 pkg Filler Paper (Wide Ruled)
2 pkg Index Cards
2 pkg Post-it Notes
2 Pocket Folders (w/ Prongs)
2 Pocket Folders (w/o Prongs)
4 Black Pens
4 Blue Pens
5" Pointed Scissors
Crayola Colored Pencils (12 ct)
Glue (4 oz Bottle)
Hand Sanitizer (2 oz)
Highlighter
Pencil Box
Pencil Sharpener
Pencil Top Erasers (10-pack)
Pink Eraser
Ruler
Three Subject Spiral Notebook (Wide Rule)
Three-ring Binder (1.5 in)
Zippered Pencil Pouch
7TH-8TH GRADE SUPPLIES
#2 Pencils (Pkg of 12)
2 Highlighters
2 Marble Composition Notebooks (Wide Ruled)
2 pkg Filler Paper (Wide Ruled)
2 pkg Index Cards
2 Pocket Folders (w/ Prongs)
2 Pocket Folders (w/o Prongs)
4 Black Pens
4 Blue Pens
Crayola Colored Pencils (12 ct)
Five-Subject Spiral Notebook (Wide Ruled)
Hand Sanitizer (2 oz)
Pencil sharpener
Pencil Top Erasers (10-pack)
Post-it Notes
Sharp-tip Scissors (7")
Three-ring Binder (2 in)
Zippered Pencil Pouch
9TH-12TH GRADE SUPPLIES
#2 Pencils (Pkg of 12)
2 pkg Filler paper (College Ruled)
2 Highlighters
2 Marble Composition Notebooks (College Ruled)
2 One-Subject Spiral Notebooks (College Ruled)
2 pkg Index Cards
2 pkg Post-it Notes
2 Pocket Folders (w/ Prongs)
2 Pocket Folders (w/o Prongs)
3-Ring Five-Subject Dividers
4 Black Pens
4 Blue Pens
Five-Subject Spiral Notebook (College Ruled)
Hand Sanitizer (2 oz)
Pencil Sharpener
Pencil Top Erasers (10-pack)
Ruler
Scientific Calculator
Three-ring Binder (2 in)
Zippered Pencil Pouch
