FORT MILL, SC — The Foundation for Fort Mill Schools is asking the community to support its Classroom Ready program as it prepares to stock school supplies ahead of the upcoming school year.
Classroom Ready provides free school supplies to students in need who are enrolled in the Fort Mill School District. The program is run by community volunteers and funded by donations, according to the foundation, which distributed more than 800 backpacks of school supplies to local children last year.
The program operates year round. During the summer months, organizers work directly with individual families, while during the school year they coordinate with Fort Mill School District guidance counselors to identify students who need support. The foundation said it plans to distribute more than 500 backpacks during its distribution weekend later this summer.
Families seeking help must register in advance for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The foundation said no backpacks will be issued without pre-registration, and it has posted both English and Spanish language registration forms online to make the process more accessible. Backpack Distribution Weekend is set for July 24 and 25.
The foundation is also encouraging the community to help restock supplies before then. A “Stuff the Bus” donation event hosted by the men’s fitness group F3 is planned for August 8 at the Tega Cay Walmart, timed to coincide with South Carolina’s tax free weekend.
Classroom Ready operates out of the Susan McCrae Moore Supply Room at 120 East Elliott Street, where a donation bin near the back entrance is available at all hours. The foundation said larger donation drop offs can be scheduled by appointment.
Residents can support the program in several ways, including hosting a neighborhood, business or church supply drive, donating individual items from the program’s most needed supplies list, making a monetary donation or volunteering in the supply room. Those interested can email [email protected] or call 803.599.0157, which accepts texts only.
The Foundation for Fort Mill Schools operates as a nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and supports several programs across the district beyond Classroom Ready, including college scholarships and grant programs for teachers and schools. The foundation can also be reached at 803.548.5559 or [email protected].
More information on Classroom Ready, including wishlists hosted on Amazon and Walmart, is available through the foundation’s website here.
Source: Foundation for Fort Mill Schools Facebook post and website
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
