Seasonal Support

Back to School Program

We are grateful for the way our community comes together to make sure kids from 4K to college have what they need to be ready to learn. This effort would not happen without financial support and donations from individuals, churches and businesses and the work of our many volunteers!

You can help us meet the need by holding a school supply drive. To get started, please contact Jill Bradshaw, Community Engagement Manager, at jill@wayforwardresources.org or 608-836-2751.

You can also purchase supplies directly from our Amazon Wish List or donate funds that can be used to buy supplies and nutritious food to fuel students as they learn and grow.

We can accept donations of NEW school supplies from June 1-August 9.

• Backpacks – heavy duty with supportive straps, 32 liters or larger, and in neutral colors (black, dark gray, navy blue)
• Dry erase markers
• Crayola thin or wide markers – 10-pack
• No. 2 pencils
• Pens (blue and black)
• Highlighters
• Composition notebooks – wide and college ruled
• Spiral notebooks – wide and college ruled in assorted colors
• 1-inch binders and binder dividers
• Poly pocket folders without prongs – assorted colors
• Earbuds or headphones
• Loose leaf paper – wide and college ruled
• Graph paper – loose leaf and notebooks
• Crayola colored pencils – 12 pencil pack
• Post-it notes – 3×3
• Ruled index cards – 3×5
• Sharpies (black) – ultra-fine and fine
• Protractors and compasses

Thanksgiving Meals

With your help, WayForward Food Pantry shoppers have the chance to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, choosing from holiday favorites and ingredients that are traditional to their families, including turkey, stuffing, gravy, pie, collard greens, ham, curry powder, coconut milk, masa harina and wild rice. A donation of $25 can cover the cost of a Thanksgiving meal for a local family.

Winter Wishes

Share the joy of the holiday season by supporting Winter Wishes. Participants receive $30 gift cards. Last year, more than 1,700 neighbors in our community signed up to receive gift cards. Winter Wishes is a fun opportunity for co-workers, teams, families and groups to come together to make the holidays special for people in our community.