Project Back to School

 

The goal of this project is to provide children of the district with necessary back to school items. This will help ensure the children of families who cannot afford these items will have a positive start to their school year.

 

Project Coordinators:  

Leslie Collins (717)580-6092, mommagic@comcast.net 

Donna Gavin (717)497-4611, adgavin@msn.com

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​​Back to School Collection Summer 2025​

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What is Project Back to School? This summer we are collecting the items listed below in donation bins throughout our district from the end of school through Labor Day. Items are stored in a central storage site in a school building for distribution to students in need. 

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2025 Project Back to School Flyer

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Operation Wildcat is gearing up to make sure every student in our district starts the year prepared and proud — and we need YOU to help make it happen! We’re collecting new school supplies, personal care items, books, and more through Labor Day, but we’re hoping to gather most donations by July 28 so we can start pre-filling backpacks on July 29! 

💥 Let’s work together to give every student the best possible start!

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What We’re Collecting (new or gently used where noted):

 

Backpacks & Supplies (new): Large backpacks (with water bottle holders), crayons, colored pencils, markers, folders, notebook paper (wide ruled), notebooks (wide ruled), highlighters, rulers, tape, index cards, earbuds, lunch boxes, and water bottles.

 

Calculators : TI-34 or TI-83 models (new or gently used)
Personal Care Items (new only): Brushes, Chapstick, conditioner, deodorant, dry shampoo, ponytail holders, razors, shampoo, shaving cream, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear (all sizes)
Books: New or gently used, for all school ages

 

Where to Donate: Look for Operation Wildcat bins at:

• MASD Schools – Mechanicsburg Area High School & District Office

• Mechanicsburg Rec Office

• Advent Partners (Camp Hill)

• Americhoice – Bumble Bee Hollow

• Callery Dental

• CSL Plasma

• First United Methodist Church

• George’s Cleaners (Mechanicsburg & Upper Allen)

• Joseph T. Simpson Public Library

• Immanuel Church (July only)

• Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church (July only)

• New Cumberland Federal Credit Union (Carlisle Pike)

• One80Ministries

• Shepherdstown United Methodist Church

• Susquehanna Valley Federal Credit Union (Camp Hill)

• Sylvan Learning Center

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Special thanks to Amazon PH4, Cortland Park, KCI and Mastronardi Produce for collecting on our behalf, too!

 

 

Warehouse Drop-Offs: OW Warehouse – 507 N York St, Saturdays & Sundays, 1–3 PM

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Want to Donate Gift Cards?
Gift cards to Giant, Grocery Outlet, Walmart, WEIS, or Target can be mailed or dropped off:

District Office c/o Operation Wildcat

MASD, 600 South Norway Street

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

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If you have a child in MASD and need help with back-to-school items, etc., please contact your child’s school counselor or nurse. All requests are kept confidential.  ​​

 

Donation of Items

Back to School and Personal Hygiene Items

•    We can only accept NEW back to school items and personal hygiene items.  Any used items will be thrown out.
  ·        Exception: we can take used calculators
  ·        These items can be left in the Operation Wildcat bins at any time.

•  If you have a large donation of back to school items, please contact the project chairs (Leslie Collins, mommagic@comcast.net or Donna Gavin adgavin@msn.com ) in advance to arrange for delivery. We will also be able to provide you with a donation receipt if you contact us in advance and provide us with the list of donated items. 

• While we appreciate all donations, the items that we need are listed on the website.  If the item is not listed, that means we either have a large quantity of those items or don’t need those items.  If you have questions about whether we need an item, please contact Leslie or Donna.

 

Computer Donations·        

• Computers, etc. can be donated directly to Computer Ministry.  Please do not leave these items at the schools, or any of the other donation locations for us to bring them to Computer Ministry·       

• Computer Ministry is a nonprofit organization that collects computers, refurbishes them and then donates the equipment to other nonprofit organizations, school groups, etc. They are located in Mission Central, 5 Pleasant View Drive, Mechanicsburg PA 17055, 717-766-6373, www.compministry.org and are open Monday Wednesday Friday 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Special weekend recycling will take place from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on the second Saturday of the month in February, May, August, and November.·

• CMI will only accept monitors that are 17” in size, operational, and without any screen burn.  If you wish to donate any other monitors, CMI will be forced to charge $20.00 per monitor that does not meet this criteria.   

• CMI will continue to accept working laser printers and plotters.  CMI will accept ink jet printers, scanners, FAX machines, and gaming peripherals for disposal only.