Hundreds of area children head back to school next week with brand new school supplies, while others will not be so lucky.

To help students less fortunate, all Vantage Credit Union locations, including the one in Eureka located at 1467 W. 5th St., are collecting school supplies through Aug. 31 to benefit the Foster & Adoptive Coalition and KidSmart.

KidSmart is an educational supply store that provides teachers with free school supplies for students in area classrooms. Donations should be new, unused school supplies.

Jennifer Allemann, public relations specialist and spokesperson for Vantage, said they welcome all school supply donations, but especially are in need of calculators, tissues, hand sanitizer and backpacks.

She said Vantage locations also have collection jars within which they are collecting spare change. Vantage employees will use that change to purchase additional school supplies for the drive.

The 'Tools For Learning' school supply drive is an annual event held by Vantage Credit Union teams throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. So far this year, Allemann said they have collected hundreds of school supplies to benefit area students.