Most schools in America require students to obtain supplies for the new year. At the beginning of each school year, parents scramble trying to find the lists of what their child needs, and to obtain all of the items on the list. There are many families that struggle to obtain all the items, because it can be costly. The good news is that in most cases it is not necessary to come up with the funds to purchase it all. There are plenty of places that offer free backpacks and school supplies for low income families.
It is important for families to know about the school supply lists and what they should and should not do regarding them. For starters, avoid buying items from the generic lists that are put out each year. You may see these lists online or at your local store, such as Target or Walmart, and they will list the school name, grade, and then a list of all the supplies they need. Ignore these lists, or you will waste money.
Most people do not realize that those are generic lists intended to get you to purchase a lot of stuff from the store. They are not at all what the teacher your child is wanting or in need of. Rather than buy supplies from a list of generic supplies, wait until you meet the teacher or your child’s first day of school, and ask the teacher specifically what is needed. There is a good chance that your child’s teacher will say nothing is required, or it will be just a couple of items that they want you to get.
Most Supplies Are Provided
Every year, there are some people who struggle to obtain school supplies for their child, and there are plenty of others who buy more than what is needed for their child. The extra supplies are generally donated to the classroom to be used for anyone else who needs them. Most classrooms have a supply cabinet filled with these extra supplies that are given out as needed.
This means that kids who are from low income families most likely do not have to buy a bunch of school supplies. They will be allowed to pull supplies from the cabinet that is filled with all the extras that other people brought in. If there is a specific item that is needed and a family cannot afford it, they should speak with the teacher about alternative ways to obtain it. They can also speak with the child’s school counselor about it. One of them will help ensure that the child gets the item that is needed.
Free Backpacks and School Supplies
Around the country there are many opportunities for students to get free backpacks that filled with school supplies. These are usually given out each fall, right before the new school year begins. They are free and usually just require that the child be present to obtain them. The places that give them out usually have a limited supply of them, so it is given out on a first come, first served basis.
The backpack giveaways are usually advertised for weeks leading up to the event where they will be given out to people for free. You will be able to get the details, register your child if they require you to do so, and then show up to the event to get obtain the free backpack that is filled with school supplies. The backpacks typically contain things that most students and classrooms can use, such as pencils, crayons, markers, paper, folders, etc. Plus, the supplies usually come in a new backpack, so the child will be able to use that for carrying all of their supplies in throughout the school year.
Free backpack events are usually a local event, with those who live in the area invited. You should be able to find numerous events taking place in your area each year. It comes down to knowing where to look for them. Once you find the places that advertise them you will start noticing the events being promoted yearly.
Here are some places to contact to inquire about backpack giveaways each fall:
City Offices – Many backpack giveaways are organized by the city offices. Contact the city offices where you live to see if there are any giveaways coming up or that they may know about. Your city offices may have information about upcoming events in your area that will be held before school starts.
Local Blogs – Find the local parenting bloggers in your area and contact them about backpack and school supply giveaways. Many of them have the information on hand and will share it with you. Those who put the events on will usually send the details of the events to the local media outlets, including to bloggers who cover parenting topics in your local area.
Mayor Offices – There are many mayor’s backpack giveaways each year around the country. Check with the mayor’s office in the city you live in to see if they do this type of event. Mayors often obtain lots of school supplies that they give away at an event right before school starts for the new year.
Organizations – There are organizations around the country that focus on providing free supplies to families as part of what they do each summer. Check with your local non-profit organizations to see if they are doing this, especially if they are organizations that help families or children.
Additional Ways to Get Free Backpacks and Supplies
If you are unable to find free school supplies using the list above, contact your child’s school. They should have a list of resources you can turn to for help. The school counselor is a good point of contact for this type of issue. You can also contact the churches in your area to let them know you are in need of certain supplies and cannot afford them. They may be willing to help out with your situation and get you the items needed.
