Back-to-school season is just around the corner! Whether you're shopping for notebooks and backpacks, replacing outgrown sneakers, or looking for ways to help local students, the Merrimack Valley offers plenty of options for families.
Here's your guide to some of the best places to shop, score deals, and support local school supply drives this season.
🛍️ Best Places for School Supplies
Andover
- Local boutiques in downtown Andover are great for children's clothing and accessories.
- Memorial Hall Library often hosts educational events and family activities leading up to the school year, making it a great stop while you're out shopping.
North Andover
- North Andover Mall is a one-stop shopping destination with clothing stores, shoe stores, sporting goods, and restaurants.
- Staples Print & Marketing Services carries notebooks, binders, backpacks, calculators, art supplies, and classroom essentials.
Methuen
Methuen is one of the Merrimack Valley's most convenient shopping hubs.
Popular stops include:
- Walmart for affordable school supplies, lunch boxes, backpacks, and uniforms.
- The Loop shopping district, featuring stores such as Target, Marshalls, Old Navy, Kohl's, Carter's, and DSW for clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Haverhill
Families can find almost everything they need at:
- Target for supplies, clothing, dorm essentials, and backpacks.
- Downtown Haverhill also offers several locally owned children's boutiques and bookstores worth exploring.
Lawrence
Lawrence families often shop at nearby retail centers in Methuen and North Andover while supporting many of the city's locally owned businesses for uniforms, clothing, and specialty items.
Georgetown, Groveland, Boxford & Middleton
While these communities don't have large shopping centers, they are conveniently located within a short drive of North Andover, Haverhill, Danvers, and Methuen, making it easy to complete your back-to-school shopping in one trip.
💰 Money-Saving Shopping Tips
✔ Shop tax-free during Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend (when announced).
✔ Compare prices online before heading to the store.
✔ Watch for teacher appreciation discounts if you're shopping for classroom supplies.
✔ Many stores begin clearance sales on backpacks and lunch boxes in late August.
✔ Purchase basic supplies in bulk if you have multiple children.
🎒 Help Local Students Start the Year Strong
One of the best ways to celebrate back-to-school season is by helping families in need.
Community Giving Tree
Community Giving Tree in Lawrence serves families throughout the Merrimack Valley by distributing school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and other essentials to children experiencing financial hardship.
Sharing Hope
Sharing Hope works with local families and community partners to provide needed resources throughout the year.
The Wish Project Backpack Attack
The Wish Project's annual Backpack Attack collects backpacks and school supplies for thousands of Merrimack Valley students. Donations of new backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, and other classroom essentials are accepted throughout the summer.
The Good Pour School Supply Drive
The Good Pour is holding its annual Back-to-School Supply Drive through early August. Donors receive a discount on purchases while helping local classrooms receive much-needed supplies.
📚 Most Requested School Supplies
If you're donating, these items are always appreciated:
- Backpacks
- Composition notebooks
- Spiral notebooks
- Pocket folders
- #2 pencils
- Colored pencils
- Crayons
- Washable markers
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Dry erase markers
- Pencil boxes
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Headphones or earbuds (often requested by schools)
❤️ Make Back-to-School Shopping a Family Tradition
Shopping for school supplies is more than checking items off a list—it's an opportunity to build excitement for the new school year. Let your child pick out a favorite backpack, choose colorful folders, or select a special notebook. Then, consider purchasing one extra item to donate to a local school supply drive.
A small act of kindness can help another student start the school year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn.
Happy shopping, and here's to an amazing 2026-2027 school year!
