This year, EECA launched a new program called Student Support Grants aimed at helping local schools meet basic needs for their students. The idea for the grants came after hearing from schools about needs that went beyond traditional school supplies, including hygiene items and other essentials students need to come to school ready to learn. In August, we awarded our first ten $500 Student Support Grants, and more than 40 local schools applied for funding.
We know the biggest obstacle isn’t usually a lack of people who want to help, but simply not knowing where help is needed or what’s needed most. With that in mind, and with permission from the schools, we’re sharing some of the needs we heard about through this year’s applications in hopes of connecting schools with community members who may be able to help.
School Donation Guide
Carbondale Community High School
Most needed items:
- Black leggings and sweatpants with elastic waists, in a variety of sizes
- Body wash
- Deodorant
- Feminine hygiene products
- Hair ties
- Underwear in a variety of sizes for males and females, including sports bras
- Monetary donations to purchase these basic items can also be made to Carbondale Community High School. Please note “Student Needs” on the memo line.
Where to donate:
- Donations can be dropped off at the Walnut Street entrance at Carbondale Community High School, located at 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale. Please mark donations for the Social Work Department or Melinda Pierson. If possible, call or email ahead so they can be prepared to receive your donation!
- Melinda Pierson: 618-457-3371 ext. 206
- Email: melinda.pierson@cchs165.com
Carbondale Elementary School District 95
Most needed items:
- Nonperishable food
- Hygiene products
- Monetary donations can be made through CES95READS.ORG
Where to donate:
- Contact communityschools@ces95.org to coordinate in-kind donations.
Carbondale Middle School
Most needed items:
- Men’s and women’s deodorant
- Nonperishable breakfast items
- Nonperishable snacks
- Pads and tampons
- Monetary Donations can be made payable to Carbondale Middle School with “CMS Basic Care Needs” in the memo line.
Where to donate: Items can be dropped off at either location listed.
- Carbondale Middle School
1150 E. Grand Ave., Ste. 1
Carbondale, IL 62901
Attn: Amy Hicks - Administration Office
216 E. Main Street
Carbondale, IL 62901
Attn: Amy Hicks
Chester Grade School
Most needed items:
- Adult-size leggings
- Adult-size underwear and socks for both boys and girls
- Deodorant for both boys and girls
- Microwavable or easy-to-heat meals, such as macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, protein Pop-Tarts, and fruit cups
- Tampons and pads
- Monetary Donations are also helpful and allow the school to purchase items that may not be donated. Donations can be sent to the school at the address below.
Where to donate: Donations can be shipped or dropped off.
- Chester Grade School Main Office
650 Opdyke St.
Chester, IL 62233
Du Quoin High School
Most needed items:
- Adult women’s leggings, in various sizes
- T-shirts for adult men and women, in various sizes
- Tampons and pads, in various sizes
- Monetary donations are greatly appreciated and allow the school to purchase other basic student-need items as they come up. Please make checks payable to Du Quoin High School and include “Kids Care” on the memo line.
Where to donate:
- Du Quoin High School
500 E. South Street
Du Quoin, IL 62832
Du Quoin Middle School
Most needed items:
- All sizes of sweatpants, leggings, and hoodies (small through X-large)
- Body wash and shampoo
- Men’s and women’s deodorant
- If making a monetary donation, please make checks payable to Du Quoin Middle School District 300 and memo them “DMS Basic Care Needs – Attn: Natalie Hubler.
Where to donate:
- Du Quoin Middle School
845 East Jackson St.
Du Quoin, IL 62832
Attn: Natalie Hubler
Southern Region Early Childhood Programs – Serving Pre-K students in Du Quoin
Most needed items:
- Gas cards
- Pull-Ups, sizes 2T–6T+
- Toddler underwear and socks
- Walmart or Dollar General gift cards
- Hygiene supplies, including shampoo, soap, and toothbrushes
Where to donate:
- Donations can be dropped off at Du Quoin High School at 500 E. South St., Du Quoin, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Giant City School
Most needed items:
- Monetary donations to the Giant City School Angel Tree Fund – this fund is used throughout the year to assist Giant City families experiencing financial hardship. Donations help provide basic necessities for students and families, and may also assist with utilities, rent, and other immediate needs.
Where to donate:
- Checks can be made payable to Giant City School and mailed to:
- Giant City School
1062 Boskydell Road
Carbondale, IL 62902 - Please write “Angel Tree” in the memo line so the donation is directed specifically toward supporting families in need.
- Giant City School
Marissa Elementary School
Marissa Elementary would use donations to support a weekend food bag program that provides students experiencing food insecurity with kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare meals to take home for the weekend. Individual or single-serving packages are especially helpful. All donated food must be unopened, commercially packaged, shelf-stable, and within its expiration or best-by date.
Most needed items:
- Crackers and individual snack packs
- Fruit cups, applesauce cups, and other individual fruit servings
- Granola bars and breakfast bars
- Individual cereal boxes or cups
- Individual packages of cookies, pretzels, popcorn or similar snacks
- Macaroni and cheese cups
- Oatmeal cups or packets
- Ramen noodle cups or other microwaveable meal cups
- Shelf-stable milk or juice boxes
Where to donate:
- Marissa Elementary School
206 E. Fulton St.
Marissa, IL
Pinckneyville Elementary School
Most needed items:
- Shoes and socks in little-kid sizes 1–5
- Underwear for ages 5T–10
Where to donate:
- Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., at:
- Pinckneyville Elementary School
301 W. Mulberry Street
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
- Pinckneyville Elementary School
Red Bud Community School District #132
Most needed items:
- Boys’ and girls’ underwear, sizes 4T–10/12
- Elastic-waistband shorts or pants, sizes 4T–10/12, for the nurse’s office
- Fidgets for the special education department, including Thinking Putty, Noodle, Pop-It, chewable necklaces, and tangle toys
- Monetary donations would allow the school to purchase items to meet unmet student needs, including haircuts, gas cards, shoes or other clothing items, household items needed for student success, and lunch account payments. Cash or check donations can be made payable to Red Bud CUSD #132 with “Student Wellness” in the memo line.
Where to donate:
- Red Bud CUSD #132
Attn: Becky Watson, Social Worker
815 Locust St.
Red Bud, IL 62285
Sparta Lincoln School
Most needed items:
- Basic unisex socks, youth and adult sizes
- Body wipes and baby wipes
- Deodorant
- Feminine hygiene products, especially pads
- Unisex jogger pants, youth XS through youth XL
- Monetary donations would help the school purchase these items as needed throughout the school year. Please make checks payable to Sparta Lincoln School and memo them “Student Support Fund.”
Where to donate: (Donations can be dropped off or mailed)
- Sparta Lincoln School
203 Dean Ave.
Sparta, IL 62286
Steeleville High School
Most needed items:
- Gift cards to Steeleville Marketplace
- Laundry detergent
- Owala water bottles
- Socks of all sizes, both short and crew
- Monetary donations would allow the school to purchase these items as needed throughout the school year. Donations can be made to Steeleville High School – Angel Fund
Where to donate:
- Steeleville High School
701 S. Sparta Street
Steeleville, IL 62288
Tri-County Center School, Murphysboro
Most needed items:
- Youth and adult socks
- Youth and adult shoes (these could be donated items, or a Walmart card would also work)
- Monetary donations would allow the school to purchase these items as needed throughout the school year. Donations can be made to “Tri-County Center School c/o Parent Educator”
Where to donate:
- Tri-County Center School
c/o Parent Educator
1725 Shomaker Drive
Murphysboro, IL 62966
Tri-County Special Education School, Ward School, Du Quoin
Most needed items:
- Deodorant and body spray for boys and girls
- Sanitary pads for girls (no tampons)
- Shampoo and conditioner for diverse students
- Monetary donations would allow the school to purchase these items as needed throughout the school year. Monetary donations can be made to Tri-County Special Education School, Ward School.
Where to donate:
- Tri-County Special Education School, Ward School
200 N Division St
Du Quoin, IL 62832
Unity Point School
Most needed items:
- Sweatpants for boys and girls
- Underwear, sizes Youth 6 through Women’s/Men’s Medium
- Winter coats
Where to donate:
- Community members can bring donated items to the main office and indicate that the donations are for Social Work. Donations can be directed to Ms. Charicata or Ms. Burroughs. Unity Point School is located at 4033 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62903.