Free Donation Pickups for School and Classroom Supplies
DonateYourStuff.ca provides free scheduled donation pickup for qualifying school and classroom supplies across the GTA and select surrounding communities. We accept backpacks, notebooks, binders, writing supplies, calculators, art materials, teacher supplies and educational resources.
School supplies should be clean, organized and usable. Backpacks and binders should work properly, writing supplies should have useful life remaining, and calculators and electronic learning tools should turn on and function.
Submit a pickup request with your location, the approximate number of boxes, bags or backpacks and a general description of what you have. We will review your request and contact you by email about pickup availability.
School Supply Donations We Accept
School supply donations can include backpacks, paper products, writing materials, classroom supplies, learning tools and educational books. Some items only need to be checked for condition, while calculators, geometry sets, learning games and classroom kits may have parts or accessories that need to stay together.
The sections below explain the types of school and classroom supplies we accept and what to check before adding them to your pickup request.
Why Condition Matters
School supplies can only be reused when they are clean, complete, functional and safe.
Backpacks should have working straps and zippers. Binders should have functional rings. Calculators should turn on and operate properly. Pens, markers, glue and other consumable supplies should have enough useful life remaining.
Paper, notebooks, workbooks and educational materials should be dry, free from mould and contain enough clean, unused content to remain practical.
We reserve the right to decline school supplies at pickup if they are broken, heavily damaged, contaminated, unsafe, mostly used up or improperly packed.
Backpacks, School Bags and Pencil Cases
We accept qualifying:
- Elementary school backpacks
- High school backpacks
- Laptop backpacks
- Book bags
- Messenger bags
- Drawstring bags
- Pencil cases
- Supply pouches
- Lunch bags
- Insulated lunch totes
Backpacks and bags should be clean and free from major stains, strong odours, broken straps, large tears and unusable zippers.
Empty every pocket and compartment before packing the donation.
Notebooks, Paper and Writing Materials
We accept qualifying:
- Unused notebooks
- Lightly used notebooks with substantial blank pages
- Composition books
- Exercise books
- Journals
- Writing pads
- Sketchbooks
- Loose-leaf paper
- Lined paper
- Graph paper
- Printer paper
- Construction paper
- Drawing paper
- Index cards
- Sticky notes
Paper products must be clean, dry and protected from moisture.
Remove notebooks containing personal records, private information or only a small number of blank pages.
Pens, Pencils & Stationery
We accept usable:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Mechanical pencils
- Pencil leads
- Coloured pencils
- Erasers
- Pencil sharpeners
- Highlighters
- Markers
- Dry-erase markers
- Permanent markers
- Crayons
- Chalk
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Tape
- Staplers
- Staples
- Paper clips
- Binder clips
- Rubber bands
Pens, markers and highlighters should still write properly. Glue should not be dried out, leaking or unusable.
Keep small and loose supplies together in pencil cases, resealable bags or small containers whenever possible.
Binders, Folders & Organization Supplies
We accept:
- Three-ring binders
- Pocket folders
- File folders
- Report covers
- Expanding folders
- Subject dividers
- Binder dividers
- Clipboards
- Portfolios
- Document cases
- Pencil boxes
- Supply organizers
- Desktop organizers
- Small storage bins
- File boxes
- Label makers
- Labels
Binders should close properly and have functional rings.
Remove personal papers, labels and identifying information before donating binders, folders or organizers.
Calculators & Learning Tools
We accept qualifying:
- Basic calculators
- Scientific calculators
- Graphing calculators
- Financial calculators
- Calculator covers
- Geometry sets
- Compasses
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Measuring tools
- Math manipulatives
- Flash cards
- Alphabet cards
- Number cards
- Educational puzzles
- Learning games
- Classroom learning aids
Calculators and electronic learning tools must turn on and operate properly.
Include covers, charging cables and other required accessories whenever available.
Teacher & Classroom Supplies
We accept qualifying:
- Whiteboard supplies
- Bulletin board materials
- Classroom labels
- Reward stickers
- Educational posters
- Flash cards
- Classroom organizers
- Storage bins
- Learning games
- Teaching aids
- Teacher planners
- Lesson-planning supplies
- Attendance books
- Classroom decorations
- Small laminators in working condition
- Laminating sheets
- Hole punches
- Staplers
- Paper cutters with working safety guards
Keep sets together and pack smaller classroom supplies by type whenever possible.
Educational Books & Workbooks
We accept qualifying:
- Children’s learning books
- Dictionaries
- Thesauruses
- Atlases
- Study guides
- Test-preparation books
- Educational reference books
- Recent-edition textbooks
- Activity books with unused pages
- Workbooks with substantial unused content
- Language-learning materials
- Homeschool resources
- Teacher resource books
Books and workbooks should be clean, dry and complete.
Keep related workbooks, teacher guides and learning sets together whenever possible.
New & Surplus School Supplies
We also accept qualifying quantities of unused or surplus supplies from:
- Families
- Teachers
- Schools
- Offices
- Retailers
- Businesses
- Property managers
- Community groups
- Event organizers
Surplus materials may include notebooks, binders, folders, stationery, backpacks, calculators, art supplies and classroom resources.
Keep unopened packages together and organize larger donations by supply type.
School Supply Donations We Cannot Accept
We cannot accept school supplies that are unsafe, unusable, heavily contaminated, mostly consumed or improperly prepared.
Please do not donate:
- Mouldy or water-damaged paper
- Wet or damp supplies
- Backpacks with broken straps
- Bags with unusable zippers
- Lunch bags with food residue
- Heavily stained pencil cases
- Pens and markers that no longer work
- Dried-out glue
- Leaking ink, paint or adhesive
- Broken rulers
- Sharp pieces of broken plastic
- Loose blades
- Open utility knives
- Unsafe paper cutters
- Broken calculators
- Electronics with battery corrosion
- Used notebooks with very few blank pages
- Workbooks that are mostly completed
- Outdated textbooks with little practical use
- Paper containing private information
- Supplies mixed with garbage
- Items affected by pests
- Supplies with strong smoke, pet or chemical odours
- Recalled or unsafe products
- Wet, damaged or collapsing boxes
- Boxes that are too heavy to lift safely
- Items that have not been prepared for pickup
Items that do not meet our donation standards may be declined at pickup.
How to Prepare School Supplies for Donation Pickup
Please prepare your school supplies before your scheduled pickup.
Check the condition: Remove supplies that are broken, mouldy, leaking, dried out, heavily stained or no longer functional. Test calculators, pens, markers, staplers and other functional items whenever practical.
Remove personal information: Check notebooks, folders, binders, calculators, backpacks and storage devices for names, addresses, student numbers, school records, report cards, medical information, login details, photographs and private documents. Remove all personal information before donating.
Empty backpacks and bags: Check every pocket and compartment. Remove food, garbage, medication, money, keys, identification and personal belongings. Clean the inside and outside of each bag.
Group similar supplies together: Separate pens and pencils, markers and crayons, notebooks and paper, binders and folders, calculators, art supplies, teacher supplies, educational materials, backpacks and lunch bags.
Contain small items: Place loose pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, paper clips and similar supplies in pencil cases, resealable bags, small boxes, plastic containers or supply organizers.
Protect paper products: Keep notebooks, paper, folders and workbooks dry and flat. Pack them in strong boxes that protect them from moisture, bending and crushing.
Keep sets together: Keep geometry sets, learning games, flash cards, classroom kits and other multi-piece materials together. Include all essential pieces whenever possible.
Secure sharp supplies: Close scissors before packing. Place compasses, paper cutters and pointed classroom tools inside protective cases or secure containers. No sharp edge or point should be exposed.
Test calculators and electronics: Confirm that calculators and electronic learning tools turn on and operate properly. Include required chargers, covers and accessories whenever available.
Remove damaged batteries: Do not include batteries that are leaking, swollen or corroded. Check battery compartments for damage before packing electronic items.
Do not overpack: Paper, books and binders become heavy quickly. Use several manageable boxes instead of one oversized container. Every box must remain safe for one person to lift.
Label every container: Use simple descriptions such as School Supplies, Backpacks, Notebooks and Paper, Calculators, Art Supplies, Teacher Supplies, Educational Books or Classroom Materials.
Keep everything dry: Store packed school supplies indoors, in a dry garage or in another protected location until pickup. Do not leave supplies exposed to rain, snow, damp ground or outdoor moisture.
Separate unusable supplies: Do not mix broken, contaminated, mouldy or unusable materials with supplies that are ready to be reused.
For complete instructions, review our how to prepare your donations page before pickup.
How School Supply Donation Pickup Works
Step 1: Submit your pickup request: Complete the online form and provide your location, approximate number of boxes, bags or backpacks and a general description of the supplies. Mention any calculators, classroom materials, educational books, art supplies or additional donation categories.
Step 2: We review your donation: We review your service location, estimated donation volume, types of supplies, overall condition, how everything is packed, other accepted items included, available vehicle space and current route availability. We may contact you by email if additional information or photos are needed.
Step 3: Receive email confirmation: Your pickup is only scheduled after you receive confirmation by email. Preferred dates and times submitted through the form are requests and are not automatically secured.
Step 4: Prepare and stage your supplies: Inspect, organize and pack all approved school supplies in strong, manageable boxes or bags. Move everything to the agreed pickup location and make sure it is clearly separated from anything that should not be collected.
Step 5: We collect the approved supplies: Once your pickup is confirmed, our team will collect the approved school supplies. Items that are damaged, mouldy, unsafe, improperly packed or significantly different from what was described may be declined.
How Your Donations Help
Donating reusable school supplies does more than clear space from a desk, classroom or storage area.
It helps:
- Keep backpacks, stationery and learning materials in circulation
- Give useful school and classroom supplies another opportunity to be used
- Keep reusable paper, binders, bags and educational materials out of landfills
- Reduce waste from surplus school and office supplies
- Create local work connected to pickup, sorting, processing and distribution
- Support the continued expansion of the Thrift Society reuse network
- Help provide direct financial relief through our Family Relief Program
- Build a stronger culture of reuse in Canadian communities
School Supply Donation Pickup Areas
Schedule Your Free School Supply Donation Pickup
Have several boxes, backpacks or a larger collection of school supplies ready to donate?
Submit a pickup request with your location, approximate number of boxes or bags and a general description of the supplies.
Tell us if the donation includes backpacks, calculators, classroom materials, educational books, art supplies or other accepted items.
We will review your request and contact you by email regarding availability.
Once approved, organize the supplies by type, pack them in strong containers and prepare them for collection. We handle the pickup so you do not have to transport everything to a donation centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I donate school supplies near me?
DonateYourStuff.ca provides scheduled school supply donation pickup in select Ontario communities.
Check our donation pickup service areas page to confirm whether pickup is available in your city.
Is school supply donation pickup free?
There is no charge for an approved pickup.
Requests are subject to location, route availability, donation volume, packaging and overall condition.
What types of school supplies do you accept?
We accept qualifying backpacks, notebooks, paper, binders, folders, writing supplies, calculators, art materials, teacher supplies and educational resources.
Do school supplies need to be new?
No.
Previously used supplies may qualify when they remain clean, functional and suitable for continued use.
Notebooks and workbooks should contain a substantial amount of unused content.
Do you accept used backpacks?
Yes.
Backpacks should be clean and free from strong odours, heavy stains, major tears, broken straps and unusable zippers.
Empty every pocket and compartment before packing them.
Do you accept notebooks that have already been used?
Lightly used notebooks may qualify when they still contain a substantial number of clean, unused pages.
Notebooks that are mostly filled, heavily damaged or contain private information should not be donated.
Do you accept used binders and folders?
Yes.
Binders should have functional rings and covers. Folders should be clean, dry and usable.
Remove personal documents and identifying labels before packing them.
Do you accept pens, pencils and markers?
Yes, provided they still work.
Remove dried-out markers, leaking pens, broken pencils and supplies that are mostly used up.
Do you accept calculators?
Yes.
Calculators must turn on and operate properly. Include covers, chargers and required accessories whenever available.
Do you accept art and craft supplies?
Yes.
We accept many clean and usable art supplies, including crayons, coloured pencils, markers, paper, brushes, stencils and classroom craft materials.
We cannot accept dried, leaking, contaminated or unsafe materials.
Do you accept teacher and classroom supplies?
Yes.
Qualifying donations may include classroom organizers, educational posters, whiteboard supplies, teaching aids, planners, flash cards and learning materials.
Do you accept school textbooks?
Recent-edition textbooks and educational reference books may qualify when they are clean, dry, complete and still useful.
Outdated textbooks with little practical educational use may not qualify.
Can a school or business donate surplus supplies?
Yes.
Schools, offices, retailers, businesses and community organizations may submit pickup requests for larger quantities of surplus supplies.
Provide an estimated quantity, general item breakdown and clear photos when available.
How many school supplies are needed for pickup?
A few individual supplies will usually not qualify on their own.
Several boxes, multiple backpacks, a classroom collection or school supplies combined with other accepted donation categories are more likely to qualify.
Do I need to count every school supply?
No.
For larger donations, provide your best estimate using the number of boxes, bags, backpacks or storage containers.
A general breakdown of the main types of supplies is more useful than an exact item count.
How should school supplies be packed?
Group similar supplies together and pack them in strong, manageable boxes.
Contain loose supplies in smaller bags or containers, protect paper from moisture and secure scissors or pointed tools.
Can I combine school supplies with other donations?
Yes.
School supplies can be combined with books, clothing, toys, office supplies, electronics, household items and other accepted donation categories.
List each category and estimated quantity when submitting your request.
Do I need to be home for pickup?
Not always.
Once your pickup has been confirmed, you may be able to leave the packed supplies in an agreed, visible pickup location.
Everything must be clearly identified and fully protected from weather.
Does submitting the form confirm my pickup?
No.
The form submits a pickup request only. Your pickup is confirmed after the donation has been reviewed and scheduling confirmation has been sent by email.
Who We Are
DonateYourStuff.ca is the official donation pickup arm of Thrift Society, a Canadian social reuse initiative that keeps useful goods in circulation while creating local employment, supporting family relief and reducing waste.
Every qualifying school supply donation helps:
- Keep backpacks and learning materials in circulation
- Give useful school and classroom supplies another opportunity to be used
- Create local work connected to pickup, sorting, processing and distribution
- Reduce waste by keeping reusable supplies out of landfills
- Support the continued expansion of the Thrift Society reuse network
- Help provide direct financial relief to Canadian families through our Family Relief Program
Your donation helps us grow a stronger reuse network that creates more local impact across Canada.
Other Donations We Accept
- DVDs & Blu-rays
- VHS Tapes
- CDs & Audiobooks
- Vinyl Records
- Books & Learning Materials
- Household Items & Small Furniture
- Kitchen & Dining
- Clothing & Accessories
- Toys & Games
- Arts, Crafts & Sewing
- Tools & Home Improvement
- Electronics
- Musical Instruments & Audio Gear
- Fitness & Exercise Equipment
- Sporting Goods
- Camping & The Outdoors
- Holiday, Costumes & Seasonal
- Mobility & Medical Aids
- Pet Supplies
- Baby Items
- Jewelry & Accessories
- Collectibles & Memorabilia
- Wall Art & Home Décor
- Bedding, Linens & Textiles