South Sound School Supply Giveaways and Donation Sites 2018
Where to get or donate free school supplies around Tacoma, South King County, Puyallup, and Lacey and Olympia
Do you need a hand getting your kids school supplies this year? Did you score extra glue sticks or pencils that you’d like to donate? Here’s a round up of places you can donate or receive school supplies around the South Puget Sound, roughly organized from north to south (at least it seems north to south on the map in my head).
I have tried hard to confirm details, but please do use the links to confirm them before you show up. Keep in mind that the vast majority of these events are run by volunteers, so if you’re attending one, go with a spirit of adventur,e and be sure you’ve read up on the time and any eligibility requirements. If you’re in a position to help or volunteer, most events will also welcome you!
South King County/Federal Way Red Canoe locations in Federal Way, Covington and Puyallup Red Canoe Credit Union hosts an annual, “Fill the Canoe,” drive and donates supplies through Communities in Schools and other charity partners. Donation event only. Link has lists of drop off locations.
Covington/Maple Valley Maple Valley Food Bank is collecting donations.
Federal Way Christian Faith Center Federal Way Currently collecting donations of backpacks and school supplies for a giveaway event on the 18th in Federal Way.
Enumclaw I don’t see current information, but Youth and Family Services has collected supplies in the past.
Auburn/Seattle Area TreeHouse works with foster kids in the Seattle area and has information on how you can host a school supply drive.
Edgewood/Milton/ Puyallup Mountain View Community Center Edgewood Free back to school barbecue and school supply giveaway August 25th. Donations are being accepted now.
Bonney Lake Lions 4 Kids Bonney Lake hosts an annual Back To School Event. Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch in any of the 5 school districts served by the organization are welcome to attend pick up school supplies, including backpacks. Hair cuts are also available, and food will be served. 3-5:30
Parking on site is limited – it is best to park at Grocery Outlet and walk over. Adult volunteers are needed – must be able to pass Washington State Background Check. Donations of school supplies and backpacks are also being accepted now. Call the House and leave a message with questions. 253-447-3844
Puyallup St.Francis House accepts donations of new and gently used household and clothing items year round, and would love your donations of school supplies and backpacks. Link has info. on how you can host a drive or donate directly via Amazon. Contact them if you are in need. There is a screening process for new clients.
Puyallup Red Canoe locations in Federal Way and Puyallup Red Canoe Credit Union hosts an annual, “Fill the Canoe,” drive and donates supplies through Communities in Schools and other charity partners. Donation event only.
FourSquare church already held their great event.
Tacoma Back to School Jam event at three locations August 25th
Lacey/Olympia/Thurston County
Little Red Schoolhouse Distribution Day is August 16th.
FREE Distribution of supplies and clothing will take place Thursday, August 16th, 2018 from 8am to 6pm at Komachin Middle School, 3650 College St. SE, Lacey, WA 98503. Open to all Thurston County families in need. Link also has info. on how you can donate.
City Gates Ministries already held an event on August 9th.
All Over Food Banks-Nearly all food banks accept school supply donations and provide supplies to clients. If you are not a current client contact them about eligibility before you go.
Other Ideas If you don’t see an event near you, contact your school district. I promise they will be able to tell you whom to talk to whether you are looking to donate supplies or are in need of a hand getting some.
Many schools are also glad to accept donations directly. Please do ask what items they can use. Backpacks, calculators, good pencils, and glue sticks are always welcome! The fifty tons of slightly musty old graph paper you found in the closet last week? Not so much.
If you know of a donation drive or event I missed, PLEASE don’t be shy about sharing it. You can just leave a comment on this post, or send me an email at soundsfunmom@gmail.com. You can also post in the fb thread we have here.
If you found this post looking for this information, I hope Sounds Fun Mom will become a regular stop for you. We are dedicated to providing information on area events and activities just for South Sound families!
PS If you’re a teacher or homeschool parent, don’t forget to read about how you can get up to 50 FREE books from Goodwill!
Smithsonian Free Museum Day 2018
Tacoma and South Puget Sound Area Museums Participating in Smithsonian Free Museum Day
Wondering when Smithsonian Free Museum Day will be?
Good news for you and your junior culture vulture. This annual event is coming right up Saturday the 22nd, and there are many Tacoma and South Sound area museums participating, which means you can get in Free!
Not familiar with this annual event? Here is the scoop:
This is an annual event that gets you two FREE admissions to a participating museum of your choice. This year’s Smithsonian Free Museum Day is on Saturday the 22nd.
Now, lots of area museums offer FREE entry all year round (Do take a minute to read up on that if that’s news to you! I’ll wait.) We suggest you use this day to visit a spot that doesn’t normally participate in a free admission program. In the Tacoma area, Fort Nisqually would be my pick. You can see all the Tacoma area options by inputing your zip code or using your location, here.
I also see the Museum of Flight and many other excellent choices just out of our normal, “Territory.” You are limited to two per household. I know this means most of you will have to pay for a couple of extra tickets-if there are four of you, look at it as a Bogo for everyone!
You can read more about Smithsonian Free Museum Day, download your vouchers, and see a list of participating museums for 2018, right here. Have you had a great museum trip with your kids lately? We’d love to hear about it!
Fun Things To Do Sunday August 12th
Did the rain keep you from having fun yesterday? No fear! We’ve got a round up of fun things you can do around Tacoma, Auburn, Olympia, and your neck of the South Sound today!
Sunday
South King County
Beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be on hand at South King County area beaches for low tide. Free but you will need a Discover WA Pass for state park locations.
Meet Peppa Pig at Learning Express Toys in Renton
Visit the Mary Olson Farm in Auburn Tour the farm house, meet the animals! Nice, low-key, unplugged outing
Free and open to the public on summer Saturdays and Sundays (donations are suggested). June 23 – August 26, Noon – 5pm.
Pierce County/Tacoma
Pierce County Fair, Graham – Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12 This small fair has lots of animals on display and is an annual celebration of rural life.
Monthly family walk at Channing Baby
Meet at their downtown store for a walk over to Anthem
Open trails day at the Morse Wildlife Preserve
Brigade Encampment at Fort Nisqually
Travel back to 1855 during one of the largest museum events of the year as living historians set up dozens of tents at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Also Sunday 10.00-15.00; free for kids 3 and under
Tiptoe through the tide pools at Titlow Beach 11AM-2 Explore low tide with volunteer naturalists. Free event
Renaissance Faire, Bonney Lake – Saturdays/Sundays, 11-12, 18-19. Take a trip back to Medieval times at the Faire! Experience pirates, faeries, and a royal masquerade, all with live entertainment! Look on their fb page for a ticket discount.
Free walking tours at Point Defiance Park
Join us every weekend for free drop-in walking tours. Explore areas of the park and get a new perspective on Tacoma’s crown jewel. No registration necessary. Tours held every weekend through September 3
- 11-11:30 am – Urban Wildlife Walk; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
- 1-2 pm – Ranger-led Nature Walk; Meet at the Rhododendron Garden Pavilion
- 2:30-3 pm – Garden Tour; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
Historic Fort Steilacoom is now open for Sunday tours 1-4PM I believe this is a free; donations welcome type thing. Summer Sundays until Labor Day
Low tide walk at JoEmma Beach 12-1:30
Get to know the unique animals that inhabit the intertidal zone with biologists and volunteer naturalists! You will need a Discover WA Pass
There is also a Low tide beach walk at Penrose Point State Park
Noon Explore one of the last low tides of the summer with volunteer naturalists from Harbor WildWatch
Olympia/Lacey area
The Fisherman and His Wife at Olympia Family Theater. Shorter, Let’s Play show perfect for young audiences. 5.00 cash or check at the door; no late seating, so plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the showtime.
Riveropolis is at the HOCM 30 ft. waterway with lots of room for water play and tinkering. Included with admission.
Need still more ideas?
Check out our complete summer guide! There is still plenty of time to do something great this summer.
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PS Thank you for mentioning Sounds Fun Mom to the places and businesses you visit!
South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Family Fun and Things To Do August 10th, August 11th, and August 12th
Looking for fun things to do with the kids this weekend? You’ve come to the right place, especially if you like Free things to do in Tacoma! No matter what part of the South Sound you call home, we’ve got something great you can do with the kids!
Sue’s Tech Kitchen Coming To Tacoma
Sue’s Tech Kitchen: A Great STEM Event for Kids and the Whole Family
Do your kids love all things tech and STEM? What about sweet treats and science experiments?
If you said, “Yes!” to even one of the above, you will not want to miss Sue’s Tech Kitchen, a national touring event coming up from our sponsors at the Broadway Center right in Tacoma.
What is it, exactly?
Think of it as a pop up science exhibit at a super cool museum where you get to be hands on with the experiments.
It’s a ticketed event, and your ticket gets you a timed entry on the hour. You and the kids will get to go from one station or exhibit to another, and it all sounds unbelievably cool!
Imagine your kids coding with robots, printing 3D versions of s’mores, eating treats made with liquid nitrogen, and much more.
Envisioned by bestselling author and serial entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg, it’s a STEM-inspired adventure and, ” tech-fueled wonderland for the mouth and the mind.”
And, it’s coming right to Tacoma with a super reasonable price point thanks to generous corporate and community support of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the Broadway Center.
This is definitely one of the, “Don’t Miss,” family events of the summer! Here’s all the details you need to know:
Sue’s Tech Kitchen in Tacoma
Dates and Times
Friday, August 24, 2018 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 25, 2018 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26, 2018 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m
Timed sessions hourly on the hour.
Location
Tacoma Armory
1001 S Yakima Ave
Tickets:Youth: $7
Adults: $15 buy tickets
Adults: $15 buy tickets
There is also a launch party for 21 and up only if you’d like a really fun date night this summer!
Be sure to choose the time that works best for you when you buy your tickets. Do note that some times already have limited availability, so don’t wait too long. You can get your tickets here.
We also have some tickets to give away! We’re doing that on this Facebook post!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Thank you for supporting the great local folks who support this site!
Free Books For Teachers At Goodwill Stores
Goodwill’s popular free books for teachers program is back!
August 25th teachers can pick out up to 50 FREE books for their classrooms.
And, yes, they do recognize homeschoolers; you will just need to bring some kind of proof that you currently homeschool.
For more information, check their Facebook post.
South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Family Fun and Things to Do August 3rd, August 4th, and August 5th
Looking for fun things to do with the kids this weekend?
You’ve come to the right place! It’s a big weekend for small town fun with festivals in Algona, Sumner, and Orting. I’m also excited for the return of the Kite Festival at Chambers Creek. Tacoma readers may also want to check out the Proctor Arts Fest or the Browns Point Salmon Bake. Olympia area readers have plenty to do, including the Thurston County Fair. Wherever you are? There is something great going on.
There are more than 70 family events this weekend (not kidding!) so if you’re reading this from the home page, you’ll need to do one more click. I promise it’s worth it!
South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Family Fun and Things To Do July 27th, July 28th, and July 29th
Looking for fun things to do with the kids this weekend?
We’ve got amazing ideas for family fun in Tacoma, Auburn, Renton, Puyallup, Lacey, and every other part of the South Sound. Just need to keep cool? The, “Beat the Heat,” guide is one post down!
There are more than 70 family events this weekend (not kidding!) so if you’re reading this from the home page, you’ll need to do one more click. I promise it’s worth it!
South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Family Fun and Things to Do July 20th, July 21st, and July 22nd
Things To Do With Kids Around the South Sound This Weekend
Wowza! It’s a super sized list of family fun this weekend. If you’re looking for things to do with the kids in Tacoma, Auburn, Puyallup, or anywhere around the South Sound, you have come to the right place! Highlights include the circus in Tacoma, the Teddy Bear Picnic in UP, awesome library events all over, an Art Festival in Gig Harbor, food trucks, free movies, and soooooo much more.