In-Kind Donations
What is an In-Kind Donation?
As part of our work to convene and facilitate partnerships that create equitable outcomes for kids, United Way of Salt Lake provides meaningful opportunities for volunteers in schools and communities and with our partners to achieve our mission of lasting social change.
In-kind donations are supplies and services that support our volunteer opportunities and initiatives being implemented by our community partners and schools. Email volunteer@uw.org to learn more about donating supplies.
Donate Items from Our School's Amazon Wishlists
We work with teachers and school staff to put together wishlists of items needed in the classroom. When you purchase an item from the wishlist, it will be sent directly to the school.
Lincoln Elementary School Wishlist >
Donate toys, hygiene supplies, fidgets, snacks for students to buy to reinforce positive behaviors in school.
Lincoln Elementary is a title one school, with a large population of refugee and immigrant children. Our students need more opportunities for positive reinforcement than many other schools. The opportunity to earn "Lincoln Loot" to purchase toys, school supplies, snacks, etc often motivates students to engage in expected behaviors and offers them an opportunity to access additional resources for themselves or family.
Midvale Elementary School Wishlist >
Donate small items, such as eraser packs and stickers, to the 1st grade Spanish class. These will be used as rewards for good behavior.
"I know it is very important to let my students know that they have done something good! Therefore, I like to promote desirable classroom behavior in my learners by rewarding their good behavior," says the teacher.
South Kearns Elementary School Wishlist >
Donate snacks to the Special Education classrooms at South Kearns Elementary.
"Full-day school is LONG for little students! We provide breakfast in the classroom, and school lunch, but an afternoon snack really helps our students stay motivated, alert, and focused on their work," says the teacher.
West Kearns Elementary School Wishlist >
Donate children's books for all ages in Spanish language, Bilingual (English and Spanish), bilingual (English and Spanish) picture vocabulary cards, and hand sanitizer dispenser with hand sanitizer replacements.
These books would go to benefit the community of Kearns focusing on Spanish language readers to develop reading skills in their native language. We would be setting these out in “Free Little Libraries”, community centers, and to local community organizations and events in Kearns.
Donate by Outcome
In many projects and opportunities, in-kind donations play a critical role in supporting students, school staff, and volunteers. We stay up to date with the needs of our community partners and schools so you and your team can provide support where it’s needed most. Learn more about our outcome areas here.
If you’re interested in making an in-kind donation of items from the list below, please email our team at volunteer@uw.org.
Basic Needs
Stuff the Bus (Seasonal; May-August)
Kindergarten Readiness and Early Grade Reading
Provide small toys, games, and kits for school incentive stores to encourage students to improve their behavior and grades
High School Graduation and Postsecondary Readiness
Provide students with fun college- and career-themed items like planners
Health and Financial Stability
Hygiene Kits containing conditioner, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, hand sanitizer, soap, and washcloths
Currently, we are only accepting items from the list above. Other items and items that need to be picked up may be eligible for donation through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah. You can also donate used items to Deseret Industries.
Seasonal Donation Needs
Help us provide supplies for our annual Year of Action volunteer events. We partner with local schools to give students the supplies they need for the school year, including backpacks, books, pencils, and more.
Read Across America Day
January-Early March
Corporate Opportunity: Organize a supply drive to collect new books to be read and given to children in community schools.
Individual Opportunity: Contribute to a supply drive collecting new books, or volunteer on or around Read Across America Day, March 2nd.
Stuff the Bus
June- Early August
Corporate opportunity: Organize a supply drive to collect school supplies to be given to children in community schools.
Individual Opportunity: Contribute to a supply drive or volunteer to stuff backpacks with school supplies at Stuff the Bus in August.
