Have you ever taken notice of a child that doesn’t have everything they need at the start of the new school year? The cost of back-to-school supplies for families hovers close to $500 annually per child.
A school supply drive is one way to get the community involved and help start kids on more equal ground as the new year starts. Having all the tools and supplies they need can create less worry and set them up for academic success.
While there are plenty of ways to create a school supply drive, one option is to collect donations online. Here, we’ll walk through how to organize a school supply drive with some tools to help you create a successful campaign.
The Financial Burden of Back-to-School Shopping
Back-to-school shopping impacts both families of students and educators. Both sides of the classroom are spending out of pocket to ensure a successful academic year.
It can be a financial burden for both but is a necessary part of the educational experience.
“Basic school supplies provide much-needed structure to learning. Having appropriate school supplies decreases classroom disruptions that often hinder effective teaching and learning. Students without supplies can’t fully participate in educational activities and they frequently distract others.”
Nearly 93% of teachers say they have spent their own money to buy supplies and get their classrooms ready at the start of the school year, spending almost as much as parents. This number can increase significantly for teachers in lower-income schools as families often have needs greater than school supplies, including food, toiletries, or hygiene products.
Nearly 15 million American children live in poverty, and expensive lists of school supplies add to the burden on those families that may already be struggling or in debt. Some parents are even going into debt and spending on their credit cards to get the things their kids need for back to school.
The Impact of Fewer Resources on Students
Organizing a school supply drive isn’t just something you can feel good about, it can actually help create more equitable classrooms and level the playing field for students.
When students have everything they need in the classroom it can make a difference:
- 94% more prepared for class
- 76% higher self-esteem
- 83% greater class participation
- 75% more interest in learning
As they say, preparation is the key to success. When families have to make a choice between feeding their children or purchasing school supplies, it often means that students aren’t coming to school fully prepared. Not only does the child bear the burden of knowing they don’t have what they need, but it also places a strain on teachers and their classrooms as well.
Providing an equitable educational experience is important to many educators, hence why so many provide supplies for their classrooms. Better resources translate to better student attendance, higher homework completion rates, and better student behavior.
Organize a School Supply Drive
So how can you get involved and help organize a school supply drive to help students and teachers in your community? It’s easier than you might think.
Here are 5 steps for organizing a community school supply drive.
- Gather information about needs: What supplies are needed at your school? You can collect specific items or collect donations and buy items directly.
- Work with teachers and administrators: Getting buy-in from the whole team can help you create a drive that everyone will participate in and can benefit from. While elementary and special needs classrooms often come with some of the highest spending needs, there are other tools – such as pricey calculators – that older students need access to. Work together to create a plan that can have the widest impact.
- Create an online fundraiser with GiveWP: You can collect donations online through a secure website form with GiveWP so that the entire community can get involved. The plugin has a free tool to get started and will allow you to start a school supply drive quickly so you can get the funds you need for classrooms.
- Promote: Get community involvement. Share your school supply drive on social media, with parents and families, and even local media.
- Thank supporters and show the impact: Use reporting tools in GiveWP after your school supply drive to show dollars raised and then break that down to what items were purchased and how many students were helped. Make sure to take pictures of the items that you were able to purchase for classrooms and tally the savings per teacher or student thanks to the fundraiser.
Even starting with a small fundraiser to purchase school supplies the first year, can continue to grow over time. It’s never too late to try to make an impact and encourage greater learning opportunities at your school or in your community.
Start Your School Supplies Drive Today
It’s ok to come up with new ways to generate financial support for your school or classroom. An online fundraiser or school supply drive can help lift financial burdens for you or the families of students.
Remember, with an online campaign, you can even create a school supply drive that goes year-round with more significant pushes at the start of a new year or semester. With a free tool, such as GiveWP, you can add fundraising tools right onto your WordPress website.
Learn more about GiveWP and schedule a demo to see how an online fundraiser could work for you.
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