BOOK BAG & SCHOOL SUPPLIES
A great first day starts here.
New book bags and grade-specific school supplies for Fauquier County students, made possible by community sponsors.
1,603 students
Received book bags and supplies in 2026
170+ sponsors
Individuals, businesses, churches, and groups
Applications open in May
Supplies distributed in August
Drive-thru pickup
The Saturday before school starts
For more than 30 years
How the program works
Book Bag & School Supplies brings our community together so every Fauquier County student can start the school year feeling confident and ready to learn. Each supply list is matched to the student’s own school and grade, so every gift meets a child’s real classroom needs.
- Families register each child with Fauquier FISH.
- Sponsors sign up to support one or more students.
- FISH pairs each child with a sponsor, sharing the child’s ID number, grade, school, and favorite color or character.
- Sponsors shop and pack a new book bag with everything on that school’s supply list, then drop it off at FISH.
- Families pick up their child’s book bag at our drive-thru distribution the Saturday before school starts.
How can we help?
For families
Get school supplies
For Fauquier County families who can’t afford new school supplies, both during the school year and back-to-school.
For sponsors
Sponsor a child
Shop for a student’s book bag and supplies, matched to their school and grade. Individuals, families, businesses, and groups are all welcome.
For families
This program is for families who are unable to afford new school supplies. Applications for back-to-school book bags open each May. During the school year, you can ask for supplies when you visit the food pantry. Questions? Email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org.
Do I have to apply each year?
Yes. Applications from previous years do not carry over.
Why do I have to apply for each of my children?
This is the easiest way for us to pair each child with a sponsor. Depending on how many children you have, your family may have more than one sponsor.
Will I receive confirmation of my application?
Yes. You should receive a confirmation email after each submission, so please include a valid email address. If you don’t receive one, email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org. You don’t need to resubmit unless we ask you to.
I made a mistake on my application. What should I do?
No problem! Email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org with the correction. Please don’t submit another application.
My circumstances have changed and we no longer need supplies.
Just email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org and we’ll take your child off our list.
I haven’t received any emails since I signed up. Is that normal?
Yes. We don’t email applicants until about one week before distribution, when we send pickup times.
If I don’t arrive early, will my child’s bag go to someone else?
No. Each child is paired with a sponsor, so your child’s book bag will be there with their name on it, whether you come in the first timeslot or the last. Please come only during your assigned time.
What if I can’t make my pickup time or the distribution?
Because this is a drive-thru distribution, we schedule a set number of pickups for each timeslot so traffic doesn’t back up onto the main road. Please come only at your scheduled time.
If you can’t make it, you can send someone else, or email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org and we may be able to schedule another pickup.
Can someone else pick up my child’s book bag?
Yes. Please make sure they have the pickup email(s) with your child’s name and ID number.
Can I sign up after the deadline?
We recommend signing up before the deadline. We usually have a waitlist, but waitlisted students are not guaranteed a book bag. You’ll receive an email only if we’re able to provide one. If you missed sign-up entirely, email bookbags@fauquierfish.org. We often have a few extra book bags.
For sponsors
Thank you for helping a student start the year ready to learn! The cost of a book bag and supplies varies by school and grade. For the upcoming school year, we estimate:
Elementary
~$70
Middle School
~$95
High School
~$85
What to buy: a new, full-size book bag (even for Head Start, preschool, and young elementary students), all of the supplies on the student’s school supply list, and, while usually not listed, a refillable water bottle. See school supply lists →
Tag every bag: download and print our bag tag. No printer? Label each bag with the student’s ID number, grade, school, and your name as sponsor.
What if all the supplies don’t fit in the book bag?
Put the extras in a plastic grocery bag and tie it to the book bag (zip ties work best). Add a tag to the grocery bag too, in case the two get separated.
Is there a preferred type of book bag?
Yes, a full-size, good-quality bag. Lower-priced bags often have zippers that break and fabric that rips, sometimes before the student even receives it. Brands we recommend include Eastpak, Adidas, and JanSport.
Can I put a note in the book bag?
Yes, but please don’t include any personal information or flyers about your organization.
Can I drop off the bag after the drop-off deadline?
Unfortunately, no. We can’t guarantee families will be able to pick up a bag at another time, so we must receive all bags by the deadline. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from dropping off on time, please email bookbags@fauquierfish.org.
Can I volunteer at the distribution?
Yes! Email bookbags@fauquierfish.org and we’ll send you our sign-up link, which we publish 2 to 4 weeks before distribution. Because this is a drive-thru event, volunteers must be over age 14.
School supply lists
We post each school’s list as soon as Fauquier County Public Schools releases it. Lists are usually all posted by mid-July.
Head Start & Preschool
Middle Schools
High Schools
Looking for other kinds of help?
Find the right program for you and your family, plus Food Pantry hours and closures.
Help a student start strong
Every book bag is made possible by a sponsor, a volunteer, or a donation.
Donate
Can’t shop? A gift helps us fill bags for students on our waitlist.
Sponsor
Shop for a student’s book bag and supplies, matched to their school and grade.
Volunteer
Help hand out book bags at our August drive-thru distribution (ages 14 and up).
Questions? Email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org.