Classroom Ideas
What if every child had access to free school supplies whenever they needed them? It would be a game-changer for so many kids. This doesn’t have to be an impossible dream. Check out this high school in Georgia where school supplies are freely available to all.
Free school supplies
Stephanie Stephens Johnson shared the following on Facebook:
“Principal Jamie Green is ‘All in for Kids’ at Gainesville City High. He has school supply stations placed on every hall. Talk about removing barriers and excuses!!! Students may take what they need or left at home for free!!! Big outcome… All students have access to school supplies needed for class all day every day.”
How cool is that? And it’s something any school could make happen.
Ways to make school supplies available to all students
- Set up an Amazon wish list of what is needed.
- Have collection bins for students to donate usable items they no longer need. This is especially important at the end of the school year when some students throw out their old supplies, even though they still have lots of life left.
- Ask local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and clubs to host school supply drives.
- Make it known in your community that your school is working to have free school supplies available to all students through the newspaper, radio stations, and social media.
- Have donation bins available in convenient locations throughout your community.
- Create volunteer opportunities out of collection, sorting, and distributing the donations. This is a great job for student community service clubs, such as Key Club.
Free school supplies take away a huge barrier for many students. It takes away the worry of having to explain your family can’t afford supplies or doesn’t have time to go to the store. Or the embarrassment of admitting you forgot your notebook and pencils at home…again. Not having to stress over supplies takes away so much stress, which leaves room for learning.
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