Catholic Community Services of Utah seeking donations of school supplies to help hundreds of students as they prepare for the classroom

Friday, Jul. 18, 2025

 Every year Catholic Community Services of Utah works with the parishes and other organizations to provide school supplies for children in need through the Backpack Bonanza.

“The importance of Backpack Bonanza is to make sure that every child whose family receives food at the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank goes to school on the first day with the supplies needed to help them learn, as well as to help the parents with the cost of buying a new backpack and school supplies,” said Randy Chappell, CCS Basic Needs director.

About 600 students in the Ogden area benefit from this program each year, Chappell said, but donations from the community are needed to make it successful. 

School supplies and monetary donations can be made through July 31. 

The donations may be dropped off at CCS’s Ogden location, 2504 F Ave. weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some parishes also collect items to be donated; check your parish bulletin for information. Donations also can be dropped off at United Way of Northern Utah, 2955 Harrison Blvd. #201, Ogden weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Catholic Community Services of Utah is collecting donations of school supplies to help refugee children in Utah start school this fall. 

“At any given time, we are supporting approximately 300 school-age refugee children as they prepare to return to the classroom,” said Aden Batar, director of CCS’ Migration and Refugee Services. “Our goal is to ensure that every child receives a backpack filled with essential school supplies by the second week of August.”

Donations can be made through the CCS Amazon Wishlist or dropped off at the CCS offices, 224 North 2200 West, Salt Lake City. Contact Mitra, mkhazaei@ccsutah.org or 801-428-1301, to coordinate a time.