It's almost that time of year again.

With some Erie County school districts set to return to the classroom in a month, local agencies and businesses are stepping up to alleviate the cost of school supplies and more.

Here's how you can help and where you can find these free supplies:

The United Way of Erie County is collecting new supplies for its 13 community schools using an online donation option called "Wishlists" for most schools. The United Way is also accepting items purchased in store and monetary donations. The drive began July 22 for some schools and ends Friday. Other schools started their drive July 15 and will collect items through Aug. 15. Monetary donations can be made at unitedwayerie.org/give-now by writing "CS Drive" in the comment section of your monetary donation.

Here's what each school needs, their collection dates and where and when you can drop off donations.

Wireless Zone, an authorized Verizon retailer, is giving away backpacks this Sunday, July 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. as part of its 10th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, which is a collaboration between Wireless Zone and its sister company, TCC. Nationwide, 140,000 backpacks full of school supplies will be given to students on a first-come, first-serve basis. One backpack per child. Families can also enter children in grades K-12 towin one of five $10,000 college scholarships. Winners will be selected at random.

In Erie County, Wireless Zone locations include 4291 Buffalo Road, 5039 Peach St., 4571 W. Ridge Road, Erie, and 360 W. Columbus Ave., Corry.