The concept of the one-day store began in 1993 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, sponsored by the Service League of Green Bay. In August 2001, NCJWSTL brought the Back to School! Store to St. Louis, inaugurating the program by providing 200 children in the St. Louis area with new clothing, shoes, and school supplies to help them start the school year off with enthusiasm and confidence.

NCJWSTL has established partnerships with 70+ local social service agencies, churches, synagogues, and community service organizations that refer and register qualifying children whose needs are not being met by other social service agencies.

2001-2019

The Back to School! Store expanded each year to serve 1,500 children annually. At the one-day store, each child received a brand-new outfit, shoes, winter coat/gear, socks, underwear, backpack, school supplies, and books to start school with confidence. Each child was assigned a volunteer personal shopper that escorted them throughout the store to experience the joy of selecting their own items. While the children shopped, their parents or guardians waited in our Family Resource Room filled with a variety of agencies that provided valuable information and resources including healthcare providers, vision screenings, legal services, and much more. Each year, more than 700 volunteers came together to plan and implement the Back to School! Store. In 2008, NCJWSTL founded the Kids Community Closet program as an extension of the Back to School! Store to ensure that students receive the supplies they need on an ongoing basis via their school of attendance.

Click here for more information on the Kids Community Closet program.

2020-2022

In response to the pandemic, the Back to School! Store made adjustments to keep families, students, and volunteers safe while still getting the supplies to students. To meet increased needs, NCJWSTL expanded the program reach by 500 students (serving 2,000!) and expanded into additional partnerships. In 2021, NCJWSTL established the Back to School! Store Advisory Council, comprised of partner agencies. The Council provides community feedback to NCJWSTL, ensuring that the Back to School! Store is meeting the needs of the community.

NCJWSTL works closely with selected social service organizations and religious organizations to identify the children who will be served by the Back to School! Store. Contact us for more information on how to become a participating agency partner.

Click here to become a Back to School! Store agency partner.

NCJW also works with the following local groups to further serve children through the Back to School! Store.

Grace Hill Settlement House
Hope House
Lydia’s House
St. Louis Crisis Nursery
The Women’s Safe House

For $180, you can sponsor a deserving child…giving them everything they need to go back to school excited about learning.

Every donation, at any amount, helps.

Click here to sponsor a child.

It takes a village of volunteers to plan and implement the Back to School! Store whether it is for our traditional in person store or contactless delivery event. Many volunteers are needed to help plan, set up, and work the day of the event to ensure that every child receives their supplies. While volunteer roles have changed and evolved, one thing is consistent—The BTSS store is the best volunteer experience of the year.

For more information on how to volunteer on the BTSS Committee or for the Back to School! Store event, please contact Renee Sigel-Hearst at rsigel-hearst@ncjwstl.org or call 314.993.5181.

Are you part of a community organization that provides education, health, or safety resources for children and families? Please contact Renee Sigel-Hearst at rsigel-hearst@ncjwstl.org or call 314.993.5181 for more information about participating in the Family Resource Room and/or the Family Resource Guide.

Click here to download NCJWSTL's Family Resource Guide.