Help Kids Start the School Year Right With the KETV, Salvation Army Backpack Drive

Look for blue donation barrels at area Methodist locations.

It can be difficult for many families to afford school supplies, and no child should have to start the school year without the tools they need to be successful.

For the sixth straight year, Methodist is partnering with KETV and the Omaha Salvation Army for the Back-to-School Backpack Drive to benefit area families.

Methodist will be collecting school supplies at the following Omaha and Council Bluffs locations: Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center, Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women’s Hospital, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, the 825 Building and Nebraska Methodist College.

Through Aug. 2, blue collection barrels can also be found at all Methodist Physicians Clinic primary care locations in the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas (192Dodge, Gretna, Hawthorne Court, HealthWest, Millard, Northwest, Cass Street, Regency, Indian Hills, Papillion, South, Council Bluffs and Risen Son). Donations will be accepted during regular hours of operation.

All school supplies are welcome, but the greatest needs are backpacks, crayons, markers, rulers, glue, erasers, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, paper, hand sanitizer, reusable water bottles and tissues.

KETV, the Salvation Army and other sponsors will be at Methodist Women’s Hospital on Friday, Aug. 2, for the final day of collections before distribution gets underway.

Since 1998, more than 189,000 children have been equipped with new backpacks and school supplies through the drive.

More resources

• Learn about when and why kids need back-to-school physicals
• Try these 5 school lunch hacks to mix up your child's menu
• Read more about Methodist's involvement in the community.