You’d be surprised how many things sitting around your house could find a whole new purpose in a classroom. At TEP, we believe that generosity doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes the most meaningful things to donate are the everyday items already tucked away in a closet, garage, or junk drawer. Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of items from around your home that could make a real difference for a student or teacher in one of our partner schools across Allegheny County.
1. School and Office Supplies
Backpacks, notebooks, folders, pens, and pencils are always in demand, whether it’s the start of the school year or just a Tuesday for a student who showed up without the basics they need to succeed. Extra office supplies like staplers, binders, and sticky notes are just as welcome, helping classrooms and school offices stay stocked and organized.
2. Furniture
Have a spare bookshelf, chair, desk, or table? A school could use it. Beyond the classroom, many schools have teacher lounges, counseling centers, libraries, and nurse offices that could always use a nice piece of gently used furniture.
3. Electronics
Have a printer you’re no longer using? A classroom would love it. And if you’re upgrading your home computer or its parts, don’t toss the old ones. STEAM programs can always put extra components to good use.
4. Gently Used Toys
Toys are a must-have in many classrooms, giving students a way to unwind while also serving as a great form of positive behavior reinforcement. With 84 Head Start classrooms joining our program this year, every toy donated is sure to find a kid who will love it.
5. Books
In many underfunded schools, the library is one of the first programs to get cut, leaving schools to rely almost entirely on donated books from the community. Since our partner schools range from pre-k through 12th grade, books of any reading level are sure to find a home.
6. Arts and Crafts Supplies
Let’s face it, that craft project sitting in your closet for the past two years probably isn’t getting finished any time soon. Those extra supplies, though, are more than enough to help jump-start creativity in the classroom.
7. Sports Equipment
Extra balls, jump ropes, or gently used gym gear go a long way for PE classes and recess, particularly in schools where equipment budgets are stretched thin.
8. Board Games and Puzzles
Much like toys, board games and puzzles hold up well even when gently used, making them perfect for indoor recess, counseling offices, or classroom reward time.
9. Personal Care and Hygiene Items
Unopened shampoo, soap, deodorant, or feminine hygiene products aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think about school needs, but many schools quietly keep a stock on hand for students who need them.
10. Kitchen Items
Mugs, small appliances, and dishware find a natural home in a teacher lounge, while extra ingredients or cooking equipment can support culinary or home ec programs at schools that offer them.
So before you toss it, donate it! The next time you’re cleaning out a closet, garage, or junk drawer, take a second look at what you’re getting rid of. What feels like clutter to you could be exactly what a student or teacher in Allegheny County needs to learn, create, or simply feel a little more supported. Every item on this list has already found a home in one of our classrooms, and yours could be next.
