School Tools

Orange Converse All-Star sneakers and brown track pants; a student in a Durham NC school

FREE MEALS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS

Through the Sun Meals program, Durham Public Schools is making sure that young people ages 18 and younger can find free meals this summer through Friday, August 1. Click here to see the breakfast and lunch menu, and click here for the list of locations and their addresses.

A través del programa Sun Meals, las Escuelas Públicas de Durham se aseguran de que los jóvenes de 18 años o menos puedan encontrar comidas gratuitas este verano hasta el viernes 1 de agosto. Haga clic aquí para ver el menú de desayuno y almuerzo, y haga clic aquí para ver la lista de ubicaciones y sus direcciones.

NORTH OAK ACADEMY

North Oak Academy (2201 E Geer St) will hold its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, August 7, 4:30–5pm. Parents are invited to take a tour and learn about this new tuition-free K-5 public charter school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2025. Click here to save your spot.

DURHAM’S PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

Jim & Carolyn Hunt Child Care Resource Center, 1201 S Briggs St, Suite 100, 919-403-6960, website

Durham’s Partnership for Children helps families make sure that their children (up to age 5) are introduced to literacy and other skills so they’re ready for school and ready to flourish. Here are four programs that DPfC would like parents/caregivers to take a look at:

Dolly Parton’s Imaginary Library—Enroll your child (age 4 and younger) and they’ll receive one age-appropriate book every month; click here for more info
Early Head Start—Low-income expecting moms and families with little ones up to age 3 can choose an early literacy program in the home or childcare center; click here for more info
Durham Pre-K—All local 4-year-olds are eligible to attend high-quality classroom programs (in both public and private settings); click here for more info
Ready4K—Parents and caregivers of children up to age 8 can receive tips via text that help them build their kids’ language and literacy skills.

SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAYS

The Durham Library Foundation will host a Tools for School backpack and school supply giveaway for students ages 9 to 12 on Saturday, August 2, 10am–2pm, at the Main Library (300 N Roxboro St). Registration isn’t necessary—stop by the Children’s Programming Room and pickup a backpack plus one item of your choice (notebook, coloring pencils, or markers).

Muslims for Humanity and ICNA Relief will cohost a free Community Health Fair at Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman (the Parkwood masjid, 5122 Revere Rd) on Saturday, August 2, noon–2pm. Get free glucose testing, a1c and lipid panel testing, blood pressure screening, and counseling from physicians and pediatricians. At the same time, starting at noon and while supplies last, they’ll also hold a Back 2 School event. Children can enjoy snacks and treats and can then pick up a free backpack and school supplies.

The Durham County Sheriff’s Office will host the third annual Stop the Violence on Saturday, August 9, 10am–2pm, at Durham County Memorial Stadium (750 Stadium Dr). Part of Project Safe Neighborhood, this event will feature back-to-school giveaways, entertainment, and community resource tables manned by representatives from local nonprofits and government agencies. Free admission and parking; you might want to bring $$$ for the food trucks. Click here to learn about Project Safe Neighborhood, which is all about collecting and analyzing crime-related data and dealing with illegal gun possession.

Pilgrim Baptist Church (2420 S Roxboro St) will host their Back-to-School Drive on Saturday, August 9, 11am–2pm. Enjoy free food, games, raffles, and get school supplies (while they last).

The Church of the Apostolic Revival International (1207 Angier Ave) will host its Back to School and Food Pantry Giveaway on Friday, August 22, 10–11:30am, in partnership with Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Rich & Grace Ministries. They’ll be giving away food and school clothes while supplies last.

iAmMe Girls and the CNOTE Foundation will host their Kickball Tournament and Back 2 School Giveaway on Saturday, August 23, 11am–3pm, at the WG Pearson Center (600 E Umstead St, just east of the Stanford L Warren Library). Enjoy some kickball, the backpack and school supply giveaway (at 1:30), face painting, free haircuts, live music and DJ, vendors, food trucks, and more. Free admission.

Progressive Holiness Church (1118 Holloway St) will host a Back-to-School with Sunday School event on Saturday, August 23, noon (while supplies last). The church’s Sunday School staff will give away bookbags full of school supplies to students in kindergarten through high school. Each child wanting a bookbag will need to be present to receive one.

Growth NC will host its Back 2 School Candyland Bash at the Lyon Park Recreation Center (1309 Halley St) on Saturday, August 23, 1–4pm. Enjoy the Parent Resource Fair at 1, the Live Youth Showcase featuring Dazzled Elite at 2, and the Community Raffle at 3. Get free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last. Free admission.

BACKPACKS 4 KIDS

At the beginning of the school year, Backpacks 4 Kids makes sure that students get off to a good start with bookbags and school supplies. They work with school social workers to get these supplies to children in need. On Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5, volunteers will be needed to help sort through donated backpacks, pencil, pens, paper, etc, at Yates Baptist Church (2819 Chapel Hill Rd) for the start of the 2025–26 school year. Contact Betty Njaramba at 919-321-6926 or betty@thevolunteercenter.org if you’re able to help out. Choose the morning session (8:30am–12:30pm) or the afternoon session (noon–4pm). This volunteer opportunity is made possible by the Triangle Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership Center; click here to view more opportunities.

DURHAM PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

1905 Chapel Hill Rd, 919-489-8383, website

The Durham Literacy Center helps adults improve their reading and comprehension skills with the aid of dedicated volunteers. Some want to earn their GEDs in order to continue their education or get jobs, and others want to be able to help their kids with their schoolwork. Others want to expand on a newfound interest in reading for pleasure and new ideas. Classes and tutoring sessions are free of charge. Here are the programs they offer:

Adult Literacy—People age 18+ are matched with trained volunteer tutors or placed in small classes led by staff members. They get help learning how to read and write well enough to fulfill their personal goals. Click here to volunteer; click here to register as a student
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)—People age 18+ join small classes and practice English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while also exploring topics like housing, transportation, employment, shopping, and education. Click here to volunteer; click here to register as a student from Friday, August 1–Sunday, August 10
Youth Achievement Program—Out-of-school young people ages 16 to 24 get intensive and individualized high-school equivalency instruction so they’ll be ready for college and jobs; click here to volunteer
Aprendan Inglés—Tienen clases gratuitas de inglés para ayudar con el trabajo, el cuidado de la salud, las escuela de sus hijos, y las emergencias; llame al 919-489-8383 (se habla español)
Computer Classes—Learn basic skills, including checking email, using a mouse, common software programs, navigating the internet, and filling out online applications
DLC-Threshold Reading and Math Class—A staff member teaches a reading and math class at the Threshold Clubhouse for adults living with severe mental illness.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

Help support Durham Public School teachers by participating in Fill That Bus! Many teachers pay for their needy students’ school supplies out of their own pockets and Crayons2Calculators in turn help the teachers by providing the supplies they need, free of charge.

Here’s a list of the most-needed items (click here to see the list as a neat graph):

Writing utensils: 12-inch rulers, red ballpoint pens, chisel-tip and fine-tip dry erase markers, highlighters, color markers 8- or 10-packs, mechanical pencils, pencils by the box or case, pencil grips, individual pencil sharpeners, Sharpies permanent markers

Paper items: 2-pocket folders, college-ruled composition books, construction paper, copy paper, dividers, file folders, wide- and college-ruled filler paper, graph paper, index cards, legal pads, Post-Its, sheet protectors, wide- and college-ruled one-subject spiral notebooks, White-Out and correction tape

Miscellaneous: AA and AAA batteries, binder clips, brass fasteners, clipboards, large and mini dry erasers, Expo dry erase markers, dry erase student whiteboards, 4-ounce glue bottles and 7-gram or small glue sticks, 5- to 8-ounce bottles hand sanitizer, masking tape, paper clips, pushpins, regular and elementary size scissors, Scotch transparent tape and tape refills, 12-inch and 24-inch-long sentence strips, staple removers, sticky notes (mini, regular size, and flags), boxed tissues.

And here’s where you can drop them off (ideally by Friday, August 8):

Atomic Clock Brewing (501 Washington St, Suite A)
Beer Durham (404 Hunt St, #110)
Blue Note Grill (709 Washington St)
Bull City Burger & Brewery (107 E Parrish St. #105)
Bull City Running (Southpoint Crossing, 202 W Hwy 54, #109
Bull City Running (City Place (501 Washington St, Suite D)
Bull City Solera and Taproom (4120 University Dr)
Crank Arm Brewing Company (620 Fernway Dr)
DSSOLVR Brewing Company (630 Rigsbee Ave)
Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell St)—Wednesday, July 9 for Educator Appreciation Night (stadium opens at 5:30pm) and throughout July
Flying Bull Beer Company (300 Morris St, #103)
Flying Bull Beer Company (752 Ninth St)
Fullsteam Brewery (Boxyard RTP, 900 Park Offices Dr)
Glass Jug Beer Lab (545 Foster St, #10)
M&M Educational Group—hosting the 2nd annual Line Dance Fundraiser at the Triangle Day School, 4911 Neal Rd, on Sunday, August 3, 1–6pm; tickets $25, click here to register
Office Depot (4001 Hwy 15-501)
Staples (3600 N Duke St).

You can also host your own supply drive or make a monetary donation if you’d prefer to help out that way. Donations of classroom supplies can be dropped off at the Crayons2Calculators warehouse (808 Bacon St) Monday through Thursday between 11am and 4:30pm. Click here for more info and additional ways to help.

SEMINAR FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

APlus Test Prep will host Preparing for High School Success: A Session for Middle School Families on Tuesday, August 12, 6:30–7:30pm, at the Durham County Main Library (300 N Roxboro St, in the Auditorium). Get tips on helping your make a smooth transition from middle school to high school. Click here for more info and to register.

STUDENT U

WG Pearson Center (600 E Umstead St), website:

Following the motto, “Empowering Students, Building Leaders, Changing Communities,” educators/staff with this nonprofit organization support middle and high school students with educational and lifeskills programming as they make their way to college. Students can get tutoring, go on college tours, gain financial literacy, and attend year-round afterschool programs. College students can learn about scholarships, getting mentors, and receiving individualized year-round support. Click on the website (above) for more info on upcoming workshops, consultations, and programs.

Adults who are interested in being volunteer tutors, can click here to sign up. Volunteers serve at least once a week during afternoon or evening hours for a semester (usually from 1 to 2 hours per session). You can choose to volunteer in person or virtually.

BRAINFUSE

Brainfuse is a website where students with an internet connection and Durham County Library card can get free online tutoring and homework help. First, go to the library’s website (durhamcountylibrary.org) and click on “Online Resources.” You’ll see some choices; click on “Get Homework Help.” Choose “Brainfuse” from the list; when you enter your library card number, be sure not to leave any spaces. If you set up a Brainfuse account, you’ll be able to save your study sessions and tests and to receive messages.

Parents can help choose lessons that are aligned with state education standards; you can get live, real-time help.
If you click on “Expert Help” and then “Live Tutoring” between 2 and 11pm, you’ll be able to find an online instructor.
When you click on “Writing Lab,” you’ll be able to upload something you have written and have it analyzed by a writing expert. They’ll make helpful comments so you can go back and improve it with edits and rewrites.
If you’re studying a foreign language, you can click on “Language Lab” and get help from a language tutor.
Click on “LEAP Learning Platform” to take practice tests for SAT. GED, Reading, Writing, and College Prep Math.

Brainfuse isn’t just for students. The Adult Learning Center offers live online help for GED preparation, resumés, cover letters, MS Office skill development, and preparation for US citizenship. If you prefer to learn in Spanish, you can always click on “Español” in the upper right-hand corner.

VILLAGE OF WISDOM

website

The Village of Wonder has started Dreamship, a black parent fellowship, which has four goals, which are to explore:

How to rest in Blackness and heal through Black Genius
How to use creativity and art to protect Black Genius
How to use research and design to protect Black Genius, and
How to change the way educators teach and protect Black Genius.

Their approach is to encourage and uplift black students, some of whom might feel that being black is a disadvantage. Parents are invited to click here for more info and to fill out the interest form so they can attend meetings and workshops to help their children.

Feel free to explore the website to learn about additional programs and activities.

DPS FAMILY ACADEMY

Durham Public Schools’ DPS Family Academy will start up again when school starts. Speakers provide helpful information and tips for parents/grands/caregivers of DPS students to help them thrive in the school environment. Follow the DPS Family Academy on Facebook.