{"id":385,"date":"2026-10-17T00:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T00:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fauquierfish.org\/demo\/?page_id=385"},"modified":"2026-11-10T08:02:45","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T13:02:45","slug":"bookbags","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fauquierfish.org\/demo\/bookbags\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Bag & School Supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BOOK BAG & SCHOOL SUPPLIES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great first day starts here.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

New book bags and grade-specific school supplies for Fauquier County students, made possible by community sponsors.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1,603 students<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Received book bags and supplies in 2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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170+ sponsors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals, businesses, churches, and groups<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Applications open in May<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supplies distributed in August<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Drive-thru pickup<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saturday before school starts<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For more than 30 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the program works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s own school and grade, so every gift meets a child\u2019s real classroom needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Families register<\/strong> each child with Fauquier FISH.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Sponsors sign up<\/strong> to support one or more students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. FISH pairs each child with a sponsor<\/strong>, sharing the child\u2019s ID number, grade, school, and favorite color or character.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Sponsors shop and pack<\/strong> a new book bag with everything on that school\u2019s supply list, then drop it off at FISH.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Families pick up<\/strong> their child\u2019s book bag at our drive-thru distribution the Saturday before school starts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    How can we help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    For families<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Get school supplies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    For Fauquier County families who can’t afford new school supplies, both during the school year and back-to-school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    HOW IT WORKS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    For sponsors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sponsor a child<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Shop for a student\u2019s book bag and supplies, matched to their school and grade. Individuals, families, businesses, and groups are all welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    HOW SPONSORING WORKS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    For families<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    SEE PANTRY HOURS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Do I have to apply each year?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes. Applications from previous years do not carry over.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Why do I have to apply for each of my children?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Will I receive confirmation of my application?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes. You should receive a confirmation email after each submission, so please include a valid email address. If you don\u2019t receive one, email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a>. You don\u2019t need to resubmit unless we ask you to.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    I made a mistake on my application. What should I do?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    No problem! Email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a> with the correction. Please don\u2019t submit another application.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    My circumstances have changed and we no longer need supplies.<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Just email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a> and we\u2019ll take your child off our list.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    I haven\u2019t received any emails since I signed up. Is that normal?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes. We don\u2019t email applicants until about one week before distribution, when we send pickup times.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    If I don\u2019t arrive early, will my child\u2019s bag go to someone else?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    No. Each child is paired with a sponsor, so your child\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    What if I can\u2019t make my pickup time or the distribution?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Because this is a drive-thru distribution, we schedule a set number of pickups for each timeslot so traffic doesn\u2019t back up onto the main road. Please come only at your scheduled time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you can\u2019t make it, you can send someone else, or email us at bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a> and we may be able to schedule another pickup.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Can someone else pick up my child\u2019s book bag?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes. Please make sure they have the pickup email(s) with your child\u2019s name and ID number.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Can I sign up after the deadline?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    We recommend signing up before the deadline. We usually have a waitlist, but waitlisted students are not guaranteed a book bag. You\u2019ll receive an email only if we\u2019re able to provide one. If you missed sign-up entirely, email bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a>. We often have a few extra book bags.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    For sponsors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Elementary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ~$70<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Middle School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ~$95<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ~$85<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    What to buy:<\/strong> a new, full-size book bag (even for Head Start, preschool, and young elementary students), all of the supplies on the student\u2019s school supply list, and, while usually not listed, a refillable water bottle. See school supply lists \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tag every bag:<\/strong> download and print our bag tag<\/a>. No printer? Label each bag with the student\u2019s ID number, grade, school, and your name as sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    GET SPONSOR UPDATES<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    What if all the supplies don\u2019t fit in the book bag?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Is there a preferred type of book bag?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Can I put a note in the book bag?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes, but please don\u2019t include any personal information or flyers about your organization.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Can I drop off the bag after the drop-off deadline?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Unfortunately, no. We can\u2019t 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Can I volunteer at the distribution?<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Yes! Email bookbags@fauquierfish.org<\/a> and we\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    School supply lists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We post each school\u2019s list as soon as Fauquier County Public Schools releases it. Lists are usually all posted by mid-July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Head Start & Preschool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n