Saturday
August 22, 2026

Cable Dahmer Arena

19100 E Valley View Pkwy, Independence, MO 64055

In partnership with:

Serving Independence and Fort Osage School District Families

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CSL’s Back to School program is a long-time tradition in our community. Helping families prepare their students to return to learn. This year CSL again anticipates serving around 3,000 local school children with a new backpack full school supplies and a new pair of shoes to start the school year!

Thank you for your continuous support of our Back to School program.

Special thanks to the following organizations for
generously donating their resources to support our Back to School Fair:

Get Involved!

  • Receive a CSL barrel and host a school supply collection at your church, business, neighborhood, and more! Click here to host a collection for CSL.

  • Give a monetary gift to support CSL’s Back to School Fairs. Help provide the supplies needed to help children start the school year! Click here to give.

  • There are many volunteer opportunities leading up to and the day-of the event. Openings include: sorting supplies, opening packages, packing backpacks, sorting shoes, and more.

    Click here to see volunteer opportunities.

  • This event is for Independence residents. Parents may pre-register their students to receive a new backpack, school supplies, socks, and a new pair of tennis shoes.

    Click here for Independence Sign-Up.

    CSL hosts additional Back to School events at our other locations. Please find a CSL location near you for Back to School information. www.cslcares.org/locations

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When you arrive, follow the signs for parking and entering the building. You will enter in the Gate 2 door and proceed to the check-in area. Once checked in, you will walk through and pick up supplies for each child that is registered. From there, you may enjoy the many organizations participating in our resource fair.

  • Students are more than welcome to attend the event and pick out their supplies. Our resource fair will also include small games with prizes the children could participate in. However, they are not required to come.

  • Only parents/legal guardians are allowed to register children to receive school supplies.

  • Unfortunately, once the event has concluded, we cannot guarantee school supplies. Please contact a CSL location near you to check for further assistance after the event and during business hours.

  • If you are needing someone else to pickup your supplies at the event, please respond to your confirmation email and be sure they bring their ID to the event.

  • If you are running late, the event goes until 3:30pm on August 22, 2026, please try to come before that time.

    Unfortunately, once the event has concluded, we cannot guarantee school supplies. Please contact a CSL location near you to check for further assistance after the event and during business hours.

  • You are more than welcome to come enjoy the resource fair from 10-3:30pm at Cable Dahmer Arena, however, supplies are only for pre-registered families.

  • Please contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 to be connected to school supply assistance near you, or contact your Family School Liaison.