Save Money on Back to School in Champaign-Urbana: Free Supplies, Backpacks, Haircuts and Health Screenings

Free school supplies, backpacks, haircuts and health screenings — save money when heading back to school in Champaign-Urbana

School can be expensive — area organizations and businesses are here to help families with some school year needs

The list gets longer every year. Back-to-school haircuts, ever-growing school supply lists, fees to register kids at school, new shoes and so much more … this might be one of the most expensive times of year to be a parent. Thankfully we have area partners who are coming together to support Champaign-Urbana area families during the back-to-school season.

Check out our entire Back to School series, presented by Christie Clinic:

• Preparing for Illness During the School Year
• Ask the Doctor: A Guide to Packing Healthy School Lunches
• Back to School: 8 Things You Didn’t Know You Needed
• Helping Out at Your Child’s School
• Save Money on Back to School in Champaign-Urbana: Free Supplies, Backpacks, Haircuts and Health Screenings
• Back to School: Dental, Vision Exams Required for Illinois Students
• Back to School: Immunizations Required for Illinois Students
• School Physicals: What’s Required for Illinois Students in 2024

Need school supplies? Many area organizations and churches conduct collection drives for backpacks and supplies (sometimes distributed together, sometimes separately). Occasionally these are distributed directly to the school, so if you have a hard time finding an event to register for, you may reach out directly to your child’s school and see if it has any provided donations available for this school year.

Editor’s note: Chambanamoms.com is not a sponsor of the events listed below. All events have limited supplies or appointments available; please check with the organization or plan to go early to these events. We are not responsible for last-minute changes or updates to back-to-school events and activities listed in this post.

Events providing free school supplies, backpacks, haircuts or health screenings this year

Where to donate

Looking for places to donate school supplies or other items related to back to school? We will be adding dates and specifics here soon.

Walmart Champaign, Savoy, Urbana and Rantoul: Walmart stores in Champaign County will host the annual Salvation Army back-to-school this August. Check here for details.

DREAAM, various locations: DREAAM (Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males) is collecting 500 pairs of new shoes for kids in grades K-12. Shoes need to be donated by July 31 for distribution. Details here.

Stephens Family YMCA: The Y will be collecting backpacks and school supplies now – Aug 2. Their goal for the backpack & school supply drive is to ensure youth in underserved communities are prepared for back to school. If you are interested in donating, please consider dropping off new and unused backpacks to the Stephens YMCA during operating hours.

More tips on saving money when heading back to school

Inventory your home

Don’t be afraid to reuse school supplies from previous years. Reusing and recycling isn’t just environmentally friendly but also easier on the pocketbook. Gather up as many “school-approved” supplies around the house you can find and mark things off the list before you even get to the store. As one reader pointed out, “The new crayons are only new until the first time they are used!”

Hit up new shopping spots

Many of us head to the traditional big box stores like Walmart, Target, or Meijer to get our school supply shopping done, but don’t overlook some of the other options in town. Staples, Dollar Tree, CVS Pharmacy, Menards (earn rebates!), and even yard sales can be a great place to find good deals. We’re told by multiple sources The IDEA Store has a great inventory of very affordable school supplies.

Shop online

Shopping online is another good option since it’s easier to compare prices at different locations. Many of the stores, like Target, offer free curbside pick-up. Others swear by buying school supplies on Amazon.

Shop early and spread it out

Shopping early and buying a little bit at a time will help you spread out the cost. Some recommend shopping r-e-a-l-l-y early, as in buy-in-bulk the previous year when items go on clearance.

However, even if you wait until the last minute, don’t fret. Plenty of parents prefer to wait until school starts to see what their students actually need.

A kindergarten teacher recommends sending in individual supplies for students and then checking with teachers about sending in “communal” items such as tissues and wipes later in the year. It helps with storage in the classroom as well.

Keep an eye out for sales

Most stores will be offering their doorbuster sales so watch for those deals. If you’re willing to go to multiple stores, you can purchase the cheapest deal at each one. Don’t forget to take advantage of in-store coupons such as Mperks at Meijer or use the Target Circle app for extra discounts.

Stick to the list

It can be difficult, especially when you see those nostalgic Trapper Keepers or scented markers, but try to stick to the school list. Those cutesy extras can add up quick and in the end they’re just not necessary. Plus, as one reader (who is also a kindergarten teacher) pointed out, some brands just work better than others and that’s why they ask for them on the list. “I get that you want to buy your kid the sparkly pencils and not the boring yellow number 2s. But when those pencils constantly break and the child needs to sharpen it — (multiply that by) 24 kids and a teacher is fixing supplies and not teaching!”

Shop with a friend and split costs

When your child needs four glue sticks but can only find them in packages of 10, shopping with a friend and splitting the cost can really come in handy. Warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club are great options for this.

Listen to advice

We asked our Facebook readers for their advice on back-to-school shopping. Here are some of their responses:

“You may want to ask around to see if anyone you know with older kids has leftover supplies they’d give you. For example, kids scissors tend to be outgrown before they wear out.”

“I understand it is hard but teachers don’t specify Crayola to be difficult. Good supplies help us assess your child. Certain crayons color better than others. Certain scissors cut better than others. If a child is struggling we don’t always know if it is their skill or the equipment. That’s why everyone having the same supplies is helpful.”

“I always keep the things that get sent home at the end of the year to use the following year. A new box of crayons is great but once they get used they aren’t new – so no need to waste what you already have!”

“As an elementary teacher I will say that’s it’s better to buy a small amount of high quality supplies than a large amount of poor quality supplies. If you can’t afford the wipes, tissue, sanitizer now then buy some later in the year when the teacher may be getting low.”

Have a free event or a distribution drive going on this summer to prepare for back to school?

We want to know about it! Submit your event here with the details.