NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (WOLF) — Kindness in Chaos NEPA is collecting school supplies through Friday for high school students served by NEPA Youth Shelter in Scranton.
Founded in 2025, the mutual aid group organized the two-week drive to help the shelter provide students with the materials they need for the upcoming school year. With four days remaining, donors can contribute new or gently used supplies.
Eden Tinkelman, co-founder of Kindness in Chaos NEPA, said access to the right supplies can help students start the school year feeling prepared and give them a better chance to succeed.
“So, anything like clear backpacks, clear lunchboxes, water bottles, pencils, pens, tissues, hand sanitizer, ChapStick, highlighters, notepads and folders. I don’t think any supplies would be turned down. We just want to make sure students start the school year off well, especially those who might not normally have the money to buy a whole bunch of new supplies,” said Tinkelman.
Requested donations also include erasers, pencil cases, planners, three-ring binders and dividers. Organizers plan to collect, inspect and inventory the donations before delivering them to the shelter July 31.
John Rosengrant, executive director of NEPA Youth Shelter, said the donated supplies will be available for students to take based on their individual needs.
“It’s impactful for us first and foremost because our budget is very tight, and the kids need the supplies. Anytime anybody is interested in doing some kind of drive for us, we are all about it. I think it’s great that people are out there willing to do that for us,” said Rosengrant.
NEPA Youth Shelter operates an after-school drop-in center for high school students and provides services including a clothing closet, food pantry, hot meals, social activities and housing assistance.
Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
Get Flexy, HonesdaleThallo Beauty, Wilkes-BarreSardoni Art Gallery, Wilkes-BarreMoxie Femme Studio, PittstonBlind Cat Beer Co., PittstonPivot PT, KingstonPivot PT, Dickson CityPivot PT, Clarks SummitThe Gathering Place, Clarks SummitMaximum Zen Bakery, Clarks SummitGHG Homecare, ScrantonElectric City Tattoo, ScrantonZummos Café, ScrantonFriendly Alien Books, Scranton
Kindness in Chaos NEPA describes itself as a mutual aid group building community resilience in Northeastern Pennsylvania through a network of care and support grounded in inclusion and the dignity of all.
For more information about the drive, visit Kindness in Chaos NEPA’s Facebook page.