Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive
**Update**
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we collected 5,318 items to support local students in need through Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive. To everyone who donated – you've made a lasting impact on the lives of countless students as they embark on a new school year with the tools they need to succeed.
Mark your calendars! Maria's Backpacks will resume next year on July 3, Maria's birthday.
The third annual Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive is about to begin, and we need your help to give to our community!
Maria Lucas always had a place in her heart for those in need and began a career working with Special Education. During summer breaks, Maria worked as a camp counselor for the City of Maryland Heights. In 2017, Maria was hired as a Customer Relations Specialist and became a shining presence at the Maryland Heights Community Center. We lost Maria in 2020 in a tragic incident, but continue to honor her kind and positive spirit by organizing a school supply drive in her memory.
Education and children were very important to Maria. We would like to make it possible to ensure every child in our community has the supplies needed to succeed at school. We will start accepting donations for the Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive on Maria's birthday - Monday, July 3. We will collect school supplies until Monday, August 14.
If you would like to donate, we will have four collection drop-off locations:
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we collected 5,318 items to support local students in need through Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive. To everyone who donated – you've made a lasting impact on the lives of countless students as they embark on a new school year with the tools they need to succeed.
Also, a big thanks to our dedicated staff who packed up and delivered these supplies with love and care. You help keep the memory of Maria alive! Special thanks to the Maryland Heights Police Department, Maryland Heights Fire Protection District, and Maryland Heights Parks and Recreation who provided vehicles and manpower to transport all of the supplies.
As we distributed these supplies through our local school district, we were reminded of the beautiful spirit behind Maria's Backpacks. This drive was born to honor the memory of our beloved coworker Maria, whose legacy lives on through this act of kindness.
Mark your calendars! Maria's Backpacks will resume next year on July 3, Maria's birthday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The third annual Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive is about to begin, and we need your help to give to our community!
Maria Lucas always had a place in her heart for those in need and began a career working with Special Education. During summer breaks, Maria worked as a camp counselor for the City of Maryland Heights. In 2017, Maria was hired as a Customer Relations Specialist and became a shining presence at the Maryland Heights Community Center. We lost Maria in 2020 in a tragic incident, but continue to honor her kind and positive spirit by organizing a school supply drive in her memory.
Education and children were very important to Maria. We would like to make it possible to ensure every child in our community has the supplies needed to succeed at school. We will start accepting donations for the Maria's Backpacks School Supply Drive on Maria's birthday - Monday, July 3. We will collect school supplies until Monday, August 14.
If you would like to donate, we will have four collection drop-off locations:
- Maryland Heights Community Center (2300 McKelvey Road)
- Maryland Heights Police Department Lobby (11911 Dorsett Road)
- Maryland Heights Fire District House 1 (2600 Schuetz Road)
- Maryland Heights Fire District House 2 (12828 Dorsett Road)
- New or like new backpacks with no wheels
- #2 pencils
- Pencil sharpeners
- Erasers
- 16 & 24 count crayons
- 10 & 12 count markers (broad or thin tip)
- Highlighters
- Student scissors
- Glue sticks
- Bottles of liquid glue
- Colored pencils
- Dry erase markers
- Two pocket folders
- Post-it notes
- Spiral single subject wide ruled notebooks
- Composition notebooks
- Pencil boxes
- Black sharpie markers
- Washable watercolors
- Transparent tape
- Boxes of face tissue
- Disinfectant wipes
- Gallon, quart, and sandwich sizes Ziploc bags
- Hand sanitizer
- 1" three ring binders
- Index cards
- Black and blue ink pens