How to help Eugene, Springfield students in financial need prepare for a new school year

Replacing worn-out shoes, book bags, clothing and school supplies is an August ritual for many families of school-age kids. When money is tight, however, families turn to charities for help.

Local organizations, including Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Project Hope and Escudo Latino, are gathering money and supplies to serve families, and the need for help is increasing.

The number of Lane County families seeking services at Catholic Community Services of Lane County due to financial struggles doubled last year, reaching 205 in 2025, and has only risen this year, said Rose Rubin, manager of development and community services. She attributes the increased need to higher prices for essentials like food, rent and gas and cutbacks to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Organizations are also struggling to receive the funding needed to serve people in poverty. Catholic Community Services’ food pantries, which are supplied by Food for Lane County, are low on food — low enough that families are limited to one food box a week instead of previously receiving two, Rubin said. While Catholic Community Services is grateful that private donations have increased, Rubin said, it hasn’t been enough to fill the gap.

The organization’s school supplies drive will benefit families who receive case management for housing instability and financial difficulties. More than 90% of families that receive case management are 50% below the poverty line. The federal poverty line for a household of four is $33,000.

Here are details for how to support three local organizations’ school supply drives.

Project Hope

What they do: Project Hope is an event put on by One Hope, a coalition of churches in Eugene and Springfield, for students in Bethel, Eugene 4J, Junction City, and Springfield school districts who need assistance. At the event, families pick up essentials including backpacks, shoes and socks and school supplies, while also participating in fun activities.

How to donate: Project Hope takes monetary donations through its website.

Catholic Community Services of Lane County

What they do: Catholic Community Services provides case management to families experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. Families who receive case management get supplies, backpacks, clothing and shoes from the drive.

How to donate: Bring new items on this list to any of the drop-off locations below (a large box with a sign on it will be located near the entrance of most locations). Most-needed items include backpacks, corded headphones, dry-erase markers, lunch bags, reusable water bottles and watercolor paints. Catholic Community Services also takes monetary donations through its website. 

Drop-off locations: The Springfield Service Center, St. Mary Catholic Church, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices on Oakway Road, St. Catherine of Siena Church, Springfield Public Library, Eugene Service Center, Emerald People’s Utility District, St. Paul Catholic Church, Eugene Friends Church, Church of the Resurrection.

Escudo Latino

What they do: Escudo Latino supports the Latino community in Eugene and Springfield. The group is gathering school supplies to donate to Latino families.

How to donate: 

There are three ways to donate to Escudo Latino’s drive.

1. Bring new backpacks, pencils, colored pencils, pens, printer paper, notebook paper, folders, scissors, rulers, glue sticks, notebooks, highlighters, crayons, markers and erasers to any of the drop-off locations below. 
2. Buy supplies through the organization’s Amazon wishlist.
3. Write Escudo Latino a check written out to CALC – Community Alliance of Lane County, memo line: 2026 School Drive Escudo Latino, mail to: Escudo Latino, 530 C St., Springfield, OR 97478

Drop-off locations: Supreme Auto Body and Paint LLC, Juvenal’s Bakery, Diamante Auto Servicio, Tienda El Angel y Restaurante.