NASHUA – Each year, the United Way of Greater Nashua holds a collection drive to restock the Rod Hansen/TAPP School Supply Pantry for the upcoming year.

This year’s drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 3-4 and Aug. 10-11. Volunteers will be collecting donations at Staples in Nashua at 252 Daniel Webster Hwy. and at Staples in Amherst at 124 Rt. 101A, Suite 13.

This pantry, located at the United Way office at 20 Broad St., is a collaborative effort between the United Way and the Teachers and Paws Project. Educators in the Greater Nashua area are invited to the pantry to pick up supplies for low-income students in their classrooms.

In the Greater Nashua area, a significant number of students come from low-income families who struggle to afford basic school supplies.

Items needed include colored pencils, calculators, staplers and staples, tape and tape dispensers, washable markers, colored chalk, webcams, scissors, lined paper, pencil cases, erasers, construction paper, colored sharpies, small hand sanitizer, headphones, glue sticks, computer mice, composition notebooks, disinfecting wipes and backpacks.

According to recent data, more than 30 percent of students in the region qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need.

Access to essential school supplies can greatly impact a student’s ability to succeed academically and feel confident in their learning environment.

The Rod Hansen/TAPP School Supply Pantry is named in honor of Rod Hansen, a dedicated volunteer and is supported by the Teachers and Paws Project. The pantry serves as a vital resource for educators.

The pantry provides supplies such as notebooks, pencils, backpacks and other essentials to ensure that every student has the tools they need to succeed.

Last year, the pantry supported more than 500 educators and provided supplies to more than 2,000 students in need.

Donations can also be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/UWGNSchoolSupply and sent directly to the United Way office.

For more information about this project, contact United Way at info@unitedwaynashua.org or at 603-882-4011.