Our roundup of the latest Wellesley charity news:

Kids Backing Kids is back with school supplies drive

Wellesley-based charitable organization Kids Backing Kids seeks your help in meeting its goal of supporting 300 students for the upcoming school year. It’s about a third of the way there so far.

With the cost of seemingly everything going up, school supplies have been no exception and that’s presenting a financial challenge to more families. Kids Backing Kids is partnering with schools, housing programs, and community programs in Wellesley, Needham, Newton, and Dorchester for its Third Annual School Supplies Drive.

There are two ways to be a sponsor:

Shop for school supplies on Kids Backing Kids’ list and fill one or more backpacks yourself. A youth volunteer will pick up the goods when ready or you can deliver them to the organization yourself. The cost for each assembled backpack will be around $50-$75.
Donate money to Kids Backing Kids and a volunteer will shop for the supplies and fill one or more backpacks. Each backpack will cost $50-$75 per student, but any amount is greatly appreciated.

Kids Backing Kids is spearheaded by the Rodrigue sisters, including Wellesley High School student Simone, and their corps of volunteers.

Student launches kids book drive

Aynsley Szczesniak, who performs and interns at Wellesley Theatre Project, has gotten a senior project head start and is running a community children’s book drive through Aug. 22, in partnership with the Boston-based nonprofit Cradles to Crayons.

One of Szczesniak’s collection boxes is actually at the Wellesley Theatre Project studio at 219 Washington St. Books in any condition for kids up to 12 years old are accepted.

The book drive is part of a broader Summer of Service initiative by Szczesniak.