The annual back-to-school drive is under way for youth at Vashon’s public schools.

Sponsored by the Vashon PTSA, the drive provides needed supplies for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who need them, regardless of family income.

The PTSA has been sponsoring the event for about a decade, coordinator Amber Crandall said, and each year organizers have seen an increased demand for supplies.

Each grade has its own list of items needed, but Crandall said some of the supplies are frequently in high demand: two-pocket folders, pencil boxes or pouches, scissors, calculators and paper — both loose leaf and spiral notebooks. All needed school supplies are welcome, however, from tissues, to erasers, to lunchboxes, to pens and pencils. Financial donations are welcome as well; in fact, donations of $35 can send a student to school with a backpack full of learning supplies.

Currently, there are two collection totes for donated materials at Thriftway; the store is a central collection point, and items need not be purchased there, Crandall said. Supplies can also be dropped off directly with Crandall, who works at Seeds4Success in the Thriftway complex, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Distribution of the supplies is slated for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until supplies run out on Friday, Aug. 31, at Seeds4Success, 9730 SW Bank Road. All who need supplies are encouraged to attend.

Items can be donated through the end of the month; any extra items will be taken up to the schools to be distributed there after school begins on Sept. 4. Checks can be made out to Vashon PTSA, P.O. Box 2364, Vashon 98070. Please write “BTSD” in the memo line.

For more information or to volunteer to assist with the drive, contact Crandall at 206-399-9997.