We accept donations of backpacks, lunch boxes, and individual school supplies. Items can be new or used in very good condition. See the attached list of school supplies.
We welcome all donations, but we particularly appreciate backpacks full of school supplies ready to be given to newcomer children!
Families with school-age children: If it is within your means, and you are already purchasing school supplies for your child, we suggest getting doubles of each item and donating a backpack filled with the same school supplies. Enlist your child in the activity: ask them to write a welcome letter to the new student who will be attending school in Canada for the first time!
School supply list
and donation guide
How to donate
Special drop-off points August 9th-28th 2024
Mandy’s Salads restaurants will accept school supply donations for Welcome Collective from August 9th-28th (bring your child with you and they can get a free cookie!)
MANDY'S WESTMOUNT: 5033 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H4A 1S8
MANDY'S ATWATER: 2313 Saint-Catherine St W #103, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1N2
MANDY'S PHILLIPS SQUARE: 1241 Rue du, Phillips Square, Montreal, Quebec H3B 3E9
MANDY'S CRESCENT: 2067 Crescent St, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2C1
MANDY'S OLD PORT: 425 Rue Saint-Nicolas, Montréal, QC H2Y 2P4
MANDY'S LAURIER: 201 Av. Laurier O, Montréal, QC H2T 2N9
MANDY'S LAVAL: 142 Prom. Du Centropolis, Laval, QC H7T 0B3
MANDY'S DDO: 11602-B De, Salaberry Blvd, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Quebec H9B 2R8
Drop-off at our warehouse
Bring your donations to our warehouse from Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm: 9494 boul. St-Laurent #802. To drive and drop (without parking), use our online donation form to let our team know when you will be here and we’ll come down to get your donations.
Request a pick-up
Request a volunteer pick-up by using our online donation form. We will send a volunteer to come get your items (note that there may be a delay of up to a few weeks for us to get to your area!).
Why donate school supplies?
Help families manage financial precarity
Refugee claimant families arrive in Canada with few or no belongings. While awaiting a work permit, parents are reliant on welfare, which does not even cover the cost of rent and food for a month. Even the most budget-minded parents will find it impossible to purchase school supplies in this situation.
Providing school supplies helps families have one less worry while they focus on their immigration process, language learning, job searching, and finding stability.
Support children through difficult transitions
A child's first day in a new school is stressful enough. Add in a new language, culture, and country, and it's a lot to handle! We can help children feel ready for this challenge - most likely, one of many they have faced in their young lives - by making sure they have the supplies they need to learn and thrive.
Help families who arrive all year long
We welcome newcomer families all year long. For families who arrive in the summer, there are backpack programs offered by community organizations. For families who arrive mid-school year (the majority of families), there are very few resources.
Whether they arrive in fall, winter, or spring, families can count on Welcome Collective to fill these gaps: we distribute backpacks and school supplies all year long, and we rely on your donations to do so!
