Studies have shown that starting the new school year with the necessary supplies promotes learning, boosts self-esteem, and helps keep kids in school. But as school funding is cut back, parents and teachers are asked to purchase more supplies for students on their own.

In today's economy, parents struggle to provide the essentials for their families as the cost of food, gas, utilities, and housing continues to rise. Because school supplies often fall at the end of a long shopping list, parents must turn to nonprofits for help in getting their children the supplies they need to start the school year off right.

As a local business owner, you can sponsor a back-to-school drive, help your community and gain positive notice for your efforts. Here are six steps you can take to run a successful back-to-school campaign.

1.  Start now – With school set to begin in August, supplies need to be ordered, collected, sorted, and delivered in a short period of time. You'll need plenty of volunteers for these tasks, so put out the word in your shop, on social media, through your partnering organizations, and on your local radio and TV stations.

2.  Make it a team effort – Join neighboring businesses, your chamber of commerce, TV and radio stations, service groups, school board, PTO, and neighborhood organizations to get the broadest reach for your drive. 

3.  Choose a nonprofit or school for your contributions – Many local and national nonprofits conduct back-to-school drives. Volunteers of America has a list of suggestions for running a campaign along with a guidebook for their back-to-school backpack drives. AARP's Create the Good also has tips for a successful drive and a page to help you recruit volunteers. Here in Tampa Bay, Quikstone has helped support the back-to-school campaign for the children of  Joshua House, a nonprofit that helps children who have been abused and neglected. Charity Navigator also lists the 10 Best Back to School Charities.

4.  Create a list of the most needed items. An essential supply list would include:

• Backpacks – large, sturdy backpacks for teens (a much-needed item)
• Paper: all types of paper, notebooks, index cards
• Pencils & Pens: blue or black pens, #2 pencils, colored pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, pencil case, colored markers, crayons, highlighters, dry-erase markers
• General Supplies: dry-erase boards, paper clips, 3-ring 2" binders, pocket folders, report covers
• Classroom staples: rulers, protractors, glue sticks, scissors, tape, staplers, calculators
• Things you can never have enough of: tissues, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizers

5.  Promote, promote, promote! – Spread the word far and wide using your partnering organizations. Encourage them to collect supplies at their locations. Challenge local businesses to compete for the most supplies collected. Think outside the box to engage as many people as you can. Everyone will support this great cause if you make them aware of the need and how they can help!

6.  Make delivery day an event – You've worked hard to make this drive successful, so now you are ready for your close-up. Gather your partners, volunteers, students, teachers, and parents and celebrate the community's efforts. Be sure to invite the media and designate group members to speak with the press. Create a fact sheet that lists all the groups and businesses involved, along with meaningful statistics about the number of supplies donated and the impact this will have on the students. 

Since 2005, Quikstone Capital Solutions has helped thousands of merchants with working capital for all their business needs - from purchasing new equipment, hiring additional staff, increasing inventory, and expanding or remodeling. Quikstone has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and 80% of our merchants are repeat customers – we're proud of that fact. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business grow. At Quikstone, we have one goal – to help you succeed.