WOTW 9/8/20 WOTW 9/8/20

Back to School Drive

Back-to-School Drive: A Celebration of Growth

At CASA Essex, we believe that being prepared is powerful. When children in foster care show up to school equipped with the supplies they need, they can focus on learning, growing, and thriving — just like their peers. Over the past five years, our Back-to-School Drive has grown into a community tradition, ensuring that year after year, our youth walk into classrooms ready to succeed.

This year, thanks to the extraordinary support of donors and community partners, more than 500 foster youth in Essex County started the school year prepared and confident — with backpacks full of supplies and the knowledge that their community believes in them.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort. Your generosity not only provided essential school supplies but also gave our children the dignity and encouragement they deserve as they step into the classroom.

Check out our archive of pictures below to see CASA advocates picking up supplies and preparing to deliver them directly to the children they serve, making this year’s Back-to-School Drive a tremendous success.

Together, we are building momentum for the next five years — and beyond.

Pictures 2025

PICTURES 2024

2023 Pictures

2022 Pictures

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2021 Pictures

2020 Pictures

WOTW 5/13/20 WOTW 5/13/20

Holiday Toy Drive

Holiday Gift Drive 2025

View Our Wishlist Here

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Essex County Holiday Gifts 2025 Drive: Help make the holiday season brighter for the foster children of Essex County by donating toys and essentials to foster youth served by CASA of Essex County, a non-profit organization that trains community volunteers to advocate for children in the foster care system.

There are nearly 600 Essex County youth in foster care. Your donation will put smiles on the faces of CASA youth and warmth in their hearts during this holiday season when they are not living at home. Items and needed quantities are listed below in categories – please review the entire list as you may choose to donate 1 or more of a particular item.

Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your generosity to a youth in out-of-home placement. If you would like to know how you can help in a larger capacity, such as becoming a CASA yourself, check out our website at www.casaessex.org.

Please note because our office is in a Federal Court Building, all gifts will be shipped to our storage unit in Roseland. In order for the gifts to be delivered to our CASA youth in time for the holidays, we ask that you make a donation by Monday, December 15, 2025. Thank you for helping spread some holiday joy!