Back-to-school shopping can put a major strain on family finances. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spent about $890 on back-to-school shopping in 2023. Between the costs of clothes, backpacks and school supplies, it’s easy to see how it all adds up.
But sometimes there’s not enough room in the family budget to buy even the basics for students. Lt. Colonel Ward Matthews, The Salvation Army’s National Secretary for Community Relations and Development, says it’s a problem he sees all too often. “With nearly 15 million children living in low-income and impoverished households, many parents will struggle to buy every item on the list,” Matthews says. “They will have to make unfair choices like whether to buy school supplies or groceries or the electric bill or needed prescriptions.”
For families who need them in 2024, free school supplies and backpacks are available through a number of outlets around the country. If you are wondering where you can get free school supplies near you, here are eight places to start your search.
“They will have to make unfair choices like whether to buy school supplies or groceries or the electric bill or needed prescriptions.”
—Lt. Colonel Ward Matthews, national secretary for community relations and development, The Salvation Army
1. Your child’s school or school district
If you’re searching for free school supplies, your child’s school is one of the first places you should look for help. Reach out to your child’s teacher, school administrator or school district to see if there are any local programs available for families who are struggling financially.
A number of public schools in Massachusetts, for example, provide free school supplies for low income families. “All of our students deserve equal access to the tools they need to succeed,” says Rebecca Smoler, English language coordinator for Sharon Public Schools in Massachusetts. “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 — or how they’re going to acquire them.”
2. The Salvation Army
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.
“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,” says Matthews.
Free school supplies near me? Find your closest Salvation Army center via ZIP code search at SalvationArmyUSA.org and inquire about their local events and availability of school supplies.
3. United Way
United Way offices nationwide host annual back-to-school drives to collect and distribute free school supplies to families in need. Check with your local chapter to find out how you can benefit from a back-to-school drive near you.
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The Boys and Girls Clubs work with a number of national retailers to collect and distribute free back-to-school supplies to families in need. Check with your local chapter to find out how these collections can benefit your family.
5. Operation Homefront’s Back to School Brigade
If you’re a military family, Operation Homefront offers free school supplies and backpacks through nationwide events. Check the Back to School Brigade schedule to find an event near you.
6. Kids in Need Foundation
The Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) provides free school supplies for low income families through dozens of free teacher resource centers nationwide and free backpack programs throughout the year.
“We tell children that preparation is the key to success, but then ask them to achieve in environments where they don’t have access to paper and pencils,” says Claire Spinti, KINF’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “[Teachers] tell us time and again how much it helps their students’ self-esteem to know they are valued by their community. This, in turn, helps the students participate and stay engaged in their learning.”
“We tell children that preparation is the key to success, but then ask them to achieve in environments where they don’t have access to paper and pencils.”
—Claire Spinti, director of marketing and communications, Kids In Need Foundation
If there isn’t a KINF resource center in your community, teachers can apply for the SupplyATeacher.org program, which provides each classroom with two large boxes with a full semester’s worth of core supplies. Principals or teachers can visit KINF.org to apply.
7. Local churches and community centers
Keep an eye on your local churches and community centers, such as the Red Cross and YMCA, as some of them may offer assistance to families in need during back-to-school season. YMCA of Greater Houston, for instance, hosts Operation Backpack 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.
8. DIY school supplies drive
If you’re not finding the help you need in your own community, consider organizing a school supplies drive in your hometown. KINF offers a School Supply Drive Toolkit with tips for success, from determining a method for collecting supplies to getting people involved and delivering your supplies. United Way and the Salvation Army also offer toolkits for hosting your own drive.
The bottom line on free school supplies
From your child’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’t be scrambling at the last second.