{"id":503,"date":"2025-09-11T15:05:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/7-ways-to-get-free-school-supplies\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:05:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:05:42","slug":"7-ways-to-get-free-school-supplies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/7-ways-to-get-free-school-supplies\/","title":{"rendered":"Where can I get free school supplies this year?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Back-to-school shopping can put a major strain on family finances. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nrf.com\/media-center\/press-releases\/majority-back-class-shoppers-have-already-begun-purchasing-school-items\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Retail Federation<\/a>, the average family spent about $875 on back-to-school shopping in 2024. <\/p><p>But sometimes there&rsquo;s not enough room in the family budget to buy even the basics for students. Lt. Colonel Ward Matthews, The Salvation Army&rsquo;s national secretary for community relations and development, says it&rsquo;s a problem he sees all too often. &ldquo;With nearly 15 million children living in low-income and impoverished households, many parents will struggle to buy every item on the list,&rdquo; Matthews says. &ldquo;They will have to make unfair choices like whether to buy school supplies or groceries or the electric bill or needed prescriptions.&rdquo;<\/p><p>For families who need them in 2025, free school supplies and backpacks are available through a number of outlets around the country. If you are wondering where to get free school supplies, here are eight places to start your search.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>Back-to-school costs can strain family budgets, especially for low-income households. <\/li><li>Organizations like The Salvation Army and United Way offer free supplies through local drives. <\/li><li>Families should reach out early to schools and community groups for help.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-organizations-provide-free-school-supplies\" data-toc-id=\"345ec09e\">Which organizations provide free school supplies?<\/h2><p>Check out the organizations below for free or reduced-cost school supplies. <\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-your-child-s-school-or-school-district\"><b>1. Your child&rsquo;s school or school district<\/b><\/h3><p>If you&rsquo;re searching for free back-to-school supplies, your child&rsquo;s school is one of the first places you should look for help. Reach out to your child&rsquo;s teacher, school administrator or school district&nbsp;to see if there are any local programs available for families who are struggling financially.<\/p><p>A number of public schools in Massachusetts, for example, provide free school supplies for low income families. &ldquo;All of our students deserve equal access to the tools they need to succeed,&rdquo; says Rebecca Smoler, English language coordinator for Sharon Public Schools in Massachusetts. &ldquo;We want our kids to be able to focus on learning and not have to worry about whether they have a pencil, binder or calculator &mdash; or how they&rsquo;re going to acquire them.&rdquo;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;We want our kids to be able to focus on learning and not have to worry about whether they have a pencil, binder or calculator &mdash; or how they&rsquo;re going to acquire them.&rdquo;<\/p><cite>&mdash; Rebecca Smoler, teacher<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-the-salvation-army\">2. The Salvation Army<\/h3><p>Regional Salvation Army locations team up with local partners every year to provide free back-to-school supplies to communities across the country, including free backpacks stuffed with school supplies.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;We coordinate with families who need a hand during a difficult time, and we conduct school supply drives across the country. Then we hold a distribution event for families to come out and pick up what they need for the new school year,&rdquo; says Matthews.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Free school supplies near me? Find your closest Salvation Army center via ZIP code search at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salvationarmyusa.org\/usn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SalvationArmyUSA.org<\/a> and inquire about their local events and availability of school supplies.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-careblocks-enrollment\" aria-live=\"polite\"><div class=\"enrollment-background\"><div class=\"enrollment-content\" id=\"enrollment-block\"><div class=\"enrollment-start\"><span>Like what you&rsquo;re reading?<\/span><h2>Join Care for free<\/h2><form name=\"enrollment\"><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-firstname\" class=\"sr-only\">First name<\/label><input name=\"firstname\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-firstname\" placeholder=\"First name\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-firstname-error hidden\">First name is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-lastname\" class=\"sr-only\">Last name<\/label><input name=\"lastname\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-lastname\" placeholder=\"Last name\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-lastname-error hidden\">Last name is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-email\" class=\"sr-only\">Email<\/label><input name=\"email\" type=\"email\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-email\" placeholder=\"Email\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-email-error hidden\"><\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-field-wrapper\"><label for=\"enrollment-block-zip\" class=\"sr-only\">Zip code<\/label><input name=\"zip\" type=\"text\" class=\"enrollment-field enrollment-zip\" placeholder=\"Zip\"><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-block-zip-error hidden\">Zip code is required.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"disclaimer\"><p>By clicking &ldquo;Join now,&rdquo; you agree to our <a href=\"\/about\/terms-of-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"\/about\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-loading\"><div class=\"enrollment-loading-animation\"><\/div><\/div><p class=\"enrollment-error enrollment-error-message hidden\">We&rsquo;re sorry, your request could not be processed at this time. Please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/app\/vhp\/get-started\">click here<\/a> to try again.<\/p><button name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm enrollment-submit\" data-loading=\"Sending...\">Join now<\/button><\/form><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-already-registered hidden\"><h2>Already Registered<\/h2><p>The email you entered is already registered. Would you like to log in?<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/login\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm\">Log In<\/a><\/div><div class=\"enrollment-complete hidden\"><span>Congrats!<\/span><h2>Your account has been created.<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/app\/job\/cc\" class=\"button button-primary button-sm enrollment-cta\" id=\"enrollment-block-cta\">Find care now<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-united-way\">3. United Way<\/h3><p>United Way offices nationwide host annual back-to-school drives to collect and distribute free school supplies to families in need. Check with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedway.org\/find-your-united-way\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">your local chapter<\/a> to find out how you can benefit from a back-to-school drive near you.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-boys-amp-girls-clubs-of-america\">4. Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of America<\/h3><p>The Boys and Girls Clubs work with a number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgca.org\/about-us\/our-partners\/partner-promotions#b2s-partners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national retailers<\/a> to collect and distribute free back-to-school supplies to families in need. Check with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgca.org\/get-involved\/find-a-club\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">your local chapter<\/a> to find out how these collections can benefit your family.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-operation-homefront-s-back-to-school-brigade\">5. Operation Homefront&rsquo;s Back to School Brigade<\/h3><p>If you&rsquo;re a military family, Operation Homefront offers free school supplies and backpacks through nationwide events. Check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.operationhomefront.org\/event\/list\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Back to School Brigade schedule<\/a> to find an event near you.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-kids-in-need-foundation\">6. Kids in Need Foundation<\/h3><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kinf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kids In Need Foundation<\/a> (KINF) provides free school supplies for low income families through dozens of free teacher resource centers nationwide and free backpack programs throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;We tell children that preparation is the key to success, but then ask them to achieve in environments where they don&rsquo;t have access to paper and pencils,&rdquo; says Claire Spinti, KINF&rsquo;s director of marketing and communications. &ldquo;[Teachers] tell us time and again how much it helps their students&rsquo; self-esteem to know they are valued by their community. This, in turn, helps the students participate and stay engaged in their learning.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;We tell children that preparation is the key to success, but then ask them to achieve in environments where they don&rsquo;t have access to paper and pencils.&rdquo;<\/p><cite>&mdash; Claire Spinti, family equity advocate and executive<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><p>If there isn&rsquo;t a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kinf.org\/programs\/network\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KINF resource center<\/a> in your community, teachers can apply for the <a href=\"https:\/\/supplyateacher.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SupplyATeacher.org<\/a> program, which provides each classroom with two large boxes with a full semester&rsquo;s worth of core supplies. Principals or teachers can visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kinf.org\/programs\/supplyboxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KINF.org<\/a> to apply.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-local-churches-and-community-centers\">7. Local churches and community centers<\/h3><p>Keep an eye on your local churches and community centers, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/find-your-local-chapter.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Red Cross <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ymca.net\/find-your-y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YMCA<\/a>, as some of them may offer assistance to families in need during back-to-school season. YMCA of Greater Houston, for instance, hosts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ymcahouston.org\/operation-backpack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Operation Backpack<\/a> every year to provide free school supplies for kids in need. Organizations often alert local media about planned fundraisers, so stay tuned to the news if you want to know about upcoming events.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-diy-school-supplies-drive\">8. DIY school supplies drive<\/h3><p>If you&rsquo;re not finding the help you need in your own community, consider organizing a school supplies drive in your hometown. KINF offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kinf.org\/supply-drive-tool-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School Supply Drive Toolkit<\/a> with tips for success, from determining a method for collecting supplies to getting people involved and delivering your supplies. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedway4u.org\/download-your-school-supply-drive-toolkit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Way<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/centralusa.salvationarmy.org\/usc-wm4\/news\/back-to-school_2014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Salvation Army <\/a>also offer toolkits for hosting your own drive.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-sure-you-start-your-free-school-supply-search-early\" data-toc-id=\"4a826c91\">Make sure you start your free school supply search early<\/h2><p>From your child&rsquo;s school district to local organizations, there are a number of ways to cut down on the cost of school supplies this year. Just make sure you start doing your research early! This way, you know where to get free school supplies and you won&rsquo;t be scrambling at the last second. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back-to-school costs are at an all-time high. For families who are struggling, here are eight places to get free backpacks and free school supplies in 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1257,"featured_media":6945,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":true,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2025-09-11T15:05:35.021Z","last_update":"2025-09-11","view_count":277117,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1060],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[6,17],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-back-to-school","member-type-seeker","vertical-children","vertical-child-care-advice","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2020-08-06","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1257"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221845,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions\/221845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}