The Heights Foundation Seeks Donations and Volunteers for Annual School Supply Drive
Community Support Needed to Equip 500 Harlem Heights Students for the New School Year
(Fort Myers, FL July 16, 2026) – The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center is calling on individuals, businesses, churches, and community organizations to participate in its annual Back-to-School Outreach. The event will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Heights Center and will provide backpacks and essential school supplies to 500 students from the Harlem Heights neighborhood.
“A backpack filled with school supplies may seem like a simple gift, but it can make a tremendous difference for a child and their family,” said Kathryn Kelly, Founder, President and CEO of The Heights Foundation. “When we remove financial barriers and ensure students have the supplies they need, we’re giving them the opportunity to begin the school year with confidence, dignity and the chance to succeed.”
The Center has a wish list that includes:
- New and durable backpacks (Size 17 or higher)
- 1” three-ring binders
- Calculators (basic and scientific)
- Crayons (24/box), colored pencils (12/box), markers (10/box)
- Earbuds or headphones
- Erasers, pens, pencils, pencil cases and sharpeners
- Black dry erase markers
- Glue sticks
- Highlighters
- Lined filler paper
- Pocket folders
- School Scissors
- Rulers
- Dividers
- Index cards
- Spiral notebooks and composition books
- USB flash drives (8GB-16GB)
A complete list can be found at www.heightsfoundation/org/backtoschool.
“We’re inviting businesses, churches, civic organizations and community groups to join us in making a meaningful difference for local students,” said Melissa Barlow, Outreach Coordinator at The Heights Center. “There are so many ways to help. A business might sponsor backpacks, while a church or neighborhood group could organize a school supply drive. Every donation, every partnership and every act of generosity helps ensure a child starts the school year with the tools they need to succeed.”
Current partners include: Crown Colony Community, Cypress Cove at Health Park, Estero Women’s Encore Club, Rotary Club of Southwest Florida, Scotlynn, Shoreline Lumber, Standard Aero and Zion Lutheran Church.
Donation Deadline:
Supplies must be dropped off by Wednesday, July 22 at The Heights Center, 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Drop-off hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to Help:
- Shop online or view the supply list: https://heightsfoundation.org/annual-school-supply-drive/
- Make a financial donation: www.heightsfoundation.org/donate
- Volunteer: Register at www.heightsfoundation.org/backtoschool or email Olivia Clifton at [email protected]
- Donation questions: Contact Melissa Barlow at (239) 482-7706 or [email protected]
All donations are tax-deductible.
About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center
Harlem Heights is a low-income community in south Fort Myers, Florida. The Heights Foundation’s mission is to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, promotes education and wellness, nurtures family and community development, and provides the benefits of enrichment and the arts.
Heights Early Learning serves more than 85 babies through 4 years old. The Heights Center serves 150 children in AfterSchool and over 150 kids in Summer Camp. The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 200 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 79% Hispanic, 15% African-American, and 6% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 50% below the county average. As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.