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Whether during the holidays or throughout the year, our community shines brightest when we come together to support students and families. By donating or hosting a drive with Communities In Schools of San Antonio, you help ensure students have what they need to stay engaged, confident, and ready to learn. From food and hygiene essentials to school supplies, clothing, or special seasonal gifts, every contribution makes a meaningful difference. Together, we can meet immediate needs and uplift students through our year‑round giving opportunities and drive programs.
Breaktime Bites Food Drive
Help us bring nourishment and stability to our students and their families by donating essential food items.
Through our Breaktime Bites Food Drive, we provide nutritious food boxes to students and families who may face limited access to school meals during extended breaks. Many children rely on school breakfast and lunch as their primary source of daily nourishment, and every donation helps ensure they remain healthy, supported, and ready to thrive throughout the year.
CIS-SA distributes food boxes at least four times annually—during Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break—as funding allows. Participating organizations may choose to assemble food boxes using our recommended item list. Monetary donations are also welcome and help CIS-SA meet students’ and families’ food needs year-round.
Items in Each Food Box:
Sign Up- 1 – Pack of rice
- 1 – Pack of dried pinto beans
- 1 – Pack of spaghetti noodles
- 1 – Jar of pasta sauce
- 2 – Cans of green beans
- 2 – Cans of Corn
- 1 – Jar of peanut butter
- 1 – Jar of jelly
- 2 – Cans of tuna
- 1 – Box of cereal or oatmeal
- 1 – Package of instant milk
- 1 – Package of fideo noodles
- 2 – Cans of chunk chicken breast
- $25 giftcard
Estimated value for 1 box = $50-$75
Suggested packing: Bankers Box – 15in x 12in x 10in
Holiday Harvest Drive
Help families share a warm and nourishing holiday meal
The Holiday Harvest Drive provides nonperishable food items and a grocery gift card to families served by CIS-SA. Your support helps relieve the stress of the season and ensures that every family has what they need to gather around the table and celebrate together.
Thanksgiving Baskets May Include:
Sign Up- $35 Gift Card for Turkey
- 4 – Cans of Green Beans
- 4 – Cans of Corn
- 2 – Cans of Cranberry Sauce
- 2 – Boxes of Stuffing
- 2 – Boxes of Mashed potatoes
- 4 – Packages of Dinner Rolls
- 1 – Desert of Choice
Estimated value for 1 basket = $75
Project Joy Gift Drive
Brighten a student’s holiday with the gift of joy
Through Project Joy, CIS-SA provides holiday gifts to students who may otherwise go without. Each donation helps remind students that they are valued, seen, and cared for by their community.
How to help:
1. Adopt a Student(s)
- We will match you with a student and provide their wish list. Gift limit is $25.
2. Adopt a Family
Sign UpBy adopting a family, you will help provide a gift for each child in the household ($25 gift limit per child) and provide a meal for the family (~$75 value for 1 meal).
Food basket may include:
- $35 Gift Card for Ham or Turkey
- 4 – Cans of Green Beans
- 4 – Cans of Corn
- 2 – Cans of Cranberry Sauce
- 2 – Boxes of Stuffing
- 2 – Boxes of Mashed potatoes
- 4 – Packages of Dinner Rolls
- 1 – Desert of Choice
Stuff The Bus School Supply Drive
Help ensure students have the tools they need to go back to school!
Through our Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive, we ensure students across San Antonio start the school year prepared and confident with the supplies they need to succeed. By providing new school essentials, you help equip children for the classroom and support families facing financial hardship.
There are several ways for organizations and community members to get involved. You can host your own school supply drive or help collect donations at local H‑E‑B stores during our city‑wide Stuff the Bus collection day. Volunteers are needed from June through August, making it easy to lend a hand during this impactful back‑to‑school initiative.
School Supply Items Include:
Sign UpLearn More- Binders
- Highlighters
- Composition Books
- Folders (with brads & pockets)
- Pens & Pencils
- Glue Sticks
- Dividers
- Scissors
- Dry-erase markers
- Markers
- Backpacks
- Pencil pouches & plastic school boxes
- Colored pencils
- Erasers
- Facial tissue
- Pencil sharpeners
- Index cards
- Ziplock bags (gallon)
Suds of Support Hygiene Drive
Help support the health, dignity, and comfort of our students and their families through essential hygiene products.
Through our Suds of Support Hygiene Drive, we provide essential hygiene items to students who may lack access to everyday personal care products. By contributing to this initiative, you help ensure that children across San Antonio can feel confident, healthy, and ready to learn.
Participating organizations can support the drive in several convenient ways.
- Assemble hygiene kits using our suggested item list
- Purchase items directly through the Amazon Wish List curated by our Basic Needs team. Wish List items can be shipped straight to our offices, ensuring easy coordination and timely delivery to students.
- Make a monetary contribution to enable CIS-SA to address the most urgent hygiene needs throughout the year.
Hygiene Kits May Include:
Sign Up- Soap – bar or body wash
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Lotion/Hand Cream
- Hair Brush
Suggested packing: assembled in a gallon ziplock bag or small box
Estimated cost per kit = $25
Warmth for Winter Drive
Share comfort and warmth this winter season
Through our Warmth for Winter Drive, we collect and distribute new coats, blankets, and other cold-weather essentials to children and families in need across San Antonio. Every donation helps ensure students stay healthy, warm, and ready to learn.
Warmth for Winter Items Include:
Sign Up- New jackets for elementary through high school-aged students
- New blankets of any size
- New hats, beanies, and gloves
