Free school supplies sound like a beneficial idea for parents. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, some families experience difficulties in getting through financial woes, and having free school supplies can take some burden off the parents' shoulders.
In an article by the US News, they mentioned ways that parents can do to get free school supplies or buy discounted school supplies.
We also found other alternatives that parents may want to check.
Here are some of those:
Check out organizations.
Across the United States, several organizations believe in the importance of education and helping children get through school. Some of these organizations are the following:
Operation Homefront's Back-to-School Brigade
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This #NationalNonprofitDay, we'd like to give a shout out to our volunteers. Their commitment and support are what allows Operation Homefront to make a real and positive difference in the lives of a very special group of Americans ... our military families and veterans. Thank you! #volunteers #gratitude #priceless #nonprofit #doinggood A post shared by Operation Homefront (@operationhomefront) on Aug 17, 2020 at 11:05am PDT
View this post on InstagramThis #NationalNonprofitDay, we'd like to give a shout out to our volunteers. Their commitment and support are what allows Operation Homefront to make a real and positive difference in the lives of a very special group of Americans ... our military families and veterans. Thank you! #volunteers #gratitude #priceless #nonprofit #doinggood A post shared by Operation Homefront (@operationhomefront) on Aug 17, 2020 at 11:05am PDT
The Salvation Army
View this post on InstagramWe’re happy to share that we’ve received a #TruistCares grant for #COVID19 pandemic relief. Learn more about what this means for people in your community: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/story/the-salvation-army-receives-a-360000-grant-from-truist/ A post shared by The Salvation Army USA (@salvationarmyus) on Aug 25, 2020 at 5:35pm PDT
Boys & Girls Club of America
View this post on InstagramWhen a celebrity, athlete, or well known figure passes away, it can create complicated feelings for young people. Today we mourn the loss of a hero, @chadwickboseman. He was a brilliant actor and inspiration to youth across the nation. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Learn how to support youth that are grieving by clicking the link in bio. A post shared by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (@bgca_clubs) on Aug 29, 2020 at 8:56am PDT
Kids in Need Foundation
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Teachers need supplies to teach. Students need supplies to learn. Yet, for the 15 million children living in poverty in the US, supplies for learning are a luxury not a given. We are thankful to the commitment of companies like @ecolab_inc who are passionate about making sure under-resourced students have these essential learning materials. Recently, they made sure over 1,500 backpacks were gifted to underserved students in both the Minneapolis/St. Paul and in Washington D.C. Ecolab's employee resource group, EcoEssense, team members participated in distributing backpacks filled with new school supplies to students as they prepare for a new year of learning. Thank you #Ecolab for your continued and amazing support of student success! . . . #morethanjustabackpack #teachersofinstagram #washingtondc #minneapolis #twincities #giveback A post shared by The Kids In Need Foundation (@kidsinneed) on Aug 27, 2020 at 6:33am PDT
View this post on InstagramTeachers need supplies to teach. Students need supplies to learn. Yet, for the 15 million children living in poverty in the US, supplies for learning are a luxury not a given. We are thankful to the commitment of companies like @ecolab_inc who are passionate about making sure under-resourced students have these essential learning materials. Recently, they made sure over 1,500 backpacks were gifted to underserved students in both the Minneapolis/St. Paul and in Washington D.C. Ecolab's employee resource group, EcoEssense, team members participated in distributing backpacks filled with new school supplies to students as they prepare for a new year of learning. Thank you #Ecolab for your continued and amazing support of student success! . . . #morethanjustabackpack #teachersofinstagram #washingtondc #minneapolis #twincities #giveback A post shared by The Kids In Need Foundation (@kidsinneed) on Aug 27, 2020 at 6:33am PDT
Feed The Children
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Our team in #Africa reached out to families in Uganda with important messages about #hygiene and food safety to help spread information about the #1 prevention to keep safe from COVID-19. Before, most families were still using stagnant water for food prep and hand washing. * * * * * * * * * #International #Hygiene #FoodPrep #Handwashing #COVID19 #InternationalEfforts #Uganda #FoodSafety #FeedtheChildren #Safety #InternationalPrograms #Education A post shared by Feed the Children (@feedthechildrenorg) on Aug 26, 2020 at 10:15am PDT
View this post on InstagramOur team in #Africa reached out to families in Uganda with important messages about #hygiene and food safety to help spread information about the #1 prevention to keep safe from COVID-19. Before, most families were still using stagnant water for food prep and hand washing. * * * * * * * * * #International #Hygiene #FoodPrep #Handwashing #COVID19 #InternationalEfforts #Uganda #FoodSafety #FeedtheChildren #Safety #InternationalPrograms #Education A post shared by Feed the Children (@feedthechildrenorg) on Aug 26, 2020 at 10:15am PDT
All of these organizations have programs that are intended to help the children in the United States to have access to free school supplies.
Look for free school supplies at home.
Sometimes, because of too much clutter or out of convenience, parents tend to forget that it is also possible to find supplies at home. This stuff can be from years ago or just the previous year, but was not wholly used or looks as good as new.
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Looking through the things at home should be the first step that parents do when looking for free school supplies.
Shop at bargains
Some stores offer sale items. Most of the time, parents should have the patience to look through these items and finding the cheapest ones.
Also, other stores offer items in a bundle where you can get additional items for free.
Try buying from the Goodwill
If parents have a budget for school supplies but are very limited, shopping at Goodwill stores can be an option. At these stores, parents can buy discounted items, and at the same time, they are supporting a good cause, which is helping the environment.