School supply drive Underway to help local students in town

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A community-wide school supply drive is underway to help local students gear up for the upcoming school year. 

The drive will wrap up with a final drop-off event on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Open-Door Food Kitchen. 

Community members are encouraged to donate essential items such as pencils, markers, crayons, calculators, sticky notes, and other school supplies. All donations will go directly to students in need as they prepare for the 2025-26 academic year. 

Donations are being accepted now and will continue through the Aug. 17 deadline. 

“Its helpful, we have all been there and we know that its a struggle to get the supplies ready to go for the first day of school and we like to give back because we understand that pressure,” Katie Burris, Executive director of Open Door Kitchen said.  

The team at Open Door Food Kitchen is gearing up to distribute supplies as part of their ongoing effort to support the local community. 

This year marks the 41st anniversary of the non-profit, which serves hot meals seven days a week—including holidays—to anyone in need.  

“Its a nice little community here, we have 200 meals a day that we serve so its a busy place for all of us working here,” Burris said.  

For volunteer Steve Doles, giving back is personal. He believes one of the most important parts of life is making sure people get proper nutrition.  

He believes one of the most important things in life is making sure people get the nutrition they need — that’s what inspired him to start volunteering and serving meals.  

“We are providing a service for the people that come here and I don’t know if this is the only meal they get in a day, it might be, especially with the food prices being so high,” Doles said.  

Beyond meals, the organization is also handing out backpacks filled with hygiene products and snacks to help unhoused and marginalized community members stay prepared.  

Young volunteer Mckinley Hennigan, who’s been involved since she was seven, said the team always welcomes extra hands.  

“They can always use the help, I have been volunteering since I was seven and the people in the community can always come in volunteer,” Hennigan said.  

For more information on donation drive or volunteering opportunities, visit our website newspressnow.com