A school-supply drive benefiting local homeless children will be hosted by the York Galleria mall starting Friday and running through Aug. 21.

A collection box will be placed at the food court to gather supplies and clothing for the Pennsylvania Homeless Children's Initiative.

The initiative, run through the state's Department of Education, aims to ensure that homeless children receive proper education despite financial hardships.

In addition to school supplies, those organizing the drive are specifically requesting shirts, pants, jackets, gloves, winter hats and shoes.

The same drive is taking place at the Monroeville Mall in Allegheny County and the Westmoreland Mall in Westmoreland County, said Stacey Keating, marketing specialist for CBL & Associates Management Inc., the corporation that owns the York Galleria.

"Those started on July 9, and they are running through Aug. 13," Keating said. "They're going really well so far. It's been really well-received."

Helping locally: She added that everything collected in York will stay in the county.

This is the first year the drive has been held, but it's not the first charitable effort for the York Galleria.

Keating said that CBL & Associates Management Inc. is continuing to partner with local nonprofits to benefit the communities its malls serve.

Earlier this year, the York Galleria held a garage sale to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Keating voiced confidence that mall patrons will embrace the new effort.

"I think the community will really wrap their arms around it," she said.