Every backpack tells a story.

For one child, it’s the excitement of meeting a new teacher. For another, it’s the nervousness of starting a new school. And for too many families, it’s the stress of wondering how they’re going to afford everything on the school supply list.

At We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym – Cedar Rapids, we believe every family deserves their children to start the school year feeling prepared, confident, and included.

That’s why we’re launching our Back-to-School Supply Drive, and we’d love for our community to help fill backpacks—and hearts—with generosity.

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What We’re Collecting

If you’ve ever found yourself buying the 24-pack of notebooks when you only needed five… this is your chance to put those extras to great use.

We’re accepting new or like-new school supplies for students of all ages, including:

Everyday Classroom Essentials

• Wide-ruled notebooks
• College-ruled notebooks
• Composition books
• Pocket folders
• Plastic folders
• Three-ring binders
• Loose-leaf notebook paper
• Graph paper
• Index cards
• Sticky notes

Writing Supplies

• #2 pencils
• Mechanical pencils
• Pencil lead
• Pens (blue, black, red)
• Highlighters
• Permanent markers
• Dry erase markers
• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Washable markers

Art & Creative Supplies

• Construction paper
• Sketch pads
• Craft scissors
• Glue sticks
• School glue
• Tape

Math & Science Tools

• Rulers
• Protractors
• Compasses
• Scientific calculators (gently used welcome)
• Graphing calculators (gently used welcome)

Technology & Organization

• Headphones (new)
• Pencil pouches
• Pencil boxes
• Clipboards
• Trapper Keepers (like new)

Backpacks & Lunch

• New or gently used backpacks
• Lunch boxes/bags
• Reusable Water bottles (new)
• Ice packs for lunch bags (new)

Classroom & Teacher Supplies

Teachers often spend hundreds of dollars out of pocket each year.

Help support them with:

• Facial tissues
• Disinfecting wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper towels
• White copy paper
• Dry erase erasers
• Classroom timers

Sensory & Special Education Supports

Because every child learns differently.

Consider donating:

• Fidget toys
• Noise-reducing headphones (new)
• Small Visual timers
• Pencil grips
• Adaptive scissors
• Visual schedules
• Communication boards
• Velcro dots
• Chewelry (new only)
• Sensory brushes
• Weighted lap pads (gently used)

 

Some ideas we might suggest:

Have Something You Don’t Use Anymore?

Some of the most appreciated donations aren’t brand new.

We’re happy to accept gently used items such as:

• Scientific or Graphing calculators
• Trapper Keepers
• Quality backpacks
• Lunch boxes in excellent condition
• Pencil organizers
• Student desk organizers

If it’s something you’d confidently send your own child to school with, there’s a good chance another family would appreciate it too.

Shopping? Grab One Extra.

One of the easiest ways to help is the “One Extra Challenge.”

The next time you’re shopping for your own children…

Pick up:

• one extra notebook
• one pack of crayons
• one folder
• one box of pencils
• one glue stick
• one package of markers

Individually they don’t seem like much.

Together, they can prepare dozens of local students and their families for a successful school year.

A Great Opportunity for Businesses

Own a business? We’d love to partner with you.

Consider donating:

• Bulk school supplies
• Company-branded backpacks
• Office supplies
• Pens and notebooks
• Gift cards to local stores where additional supplies can be purchased

We’d be honored to recognize businesses that help support local students throughout the drive.

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When Can You Donate?

We’re collecting donations now through the first week of August.

Drop them off during our regular business hours (9am to 6pm most days) at:

We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym – Cedar Rapids
3281 Armar Drive
Marion, IA 52302

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Need School Supplies?

The second week of August, we’ll open our Classroom to families who could use a little extra help before school begins.

No family should feel embarrassed because they don’t have the supplies their kiddos need to learn.

Our hope is simple:

A community helping a community.

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Why This Matters

At We Rock the Spectrum, we serve children from every walk of life.

Every day we see kindness, inclusion, and generosity in action.

This supply drive isn’t just about notebooks or crayons.

It’s about telling families:

“Your community is here to help.”

Sometimes the smallest donation creates the biggest smile.

Join Us

Whether you donate one notebook or an entire backpack full of supplies, you’re helping local students walk into their classrooms a little more confident and a lot more prepared.

Let’s show what our community can do when we come together.

We’ll see you at the gym—and thank you for helping every child start the school year ready to learn.