Stories

Meet Ellis: When School Supplies Aren’t a Given

September 16, 2026

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Teacher Ellis sharing their story about teaching with out the essential supplies


Behind every classroom supply is a teacher who knows exactly what their students are capable of. They see the creativity, curiosity, resilience, and potential that can sometimes be difficult to see from the outside—and they keep showing up because they believe in what’s possible when students are equipped with the right tools.
But too often, that belief comes with a personal cost. 

Teachers are investing copious amounts of time, energy, and often their own money because they know their students are worth it. But when teachers are spending their own money to make sure students have what they need, they’re forced to make a choice no educator should have to make: supporting their students or supporting themselves.

“I assume that my students don’t have any supplies. That is the standard operating mode. The majority of our kids don’t come to us with all their new school supplies, so that’s part of what we have to prepare for…. If I want my students to have something I know that I need to provide it for them.”

Teacher Ellis sharing their story about teaching with out the essential supplies


That’s why KINF exists. We want teachers to be able to focus on unlocking students’ potential—not worrying about what happens when the supplies run out.

When essential resources are available, educators can spend less time worrying about what their classrooms are missing and more time doing what they do best: unlocking curiosity, building confidence, and helping students grow. Because beyond the backpack, beyond the supplies themselves, is something much bigger—the opportunity for a student to participate fully, use their voice, and find excitement in learning.

And that’s what it’s all about. At the center of it all are the students. “Finding the delight in their growth and in their experience of the world… Finding those moments of joy really keeps me going.” 

It’s what keeps teachers coming back, what inspires them to keep finding new ways to reach their classrooms, and what makes the investment worth it. Because when we invest in the resources teachers need, we’re not just filling a classroom—we’re helping fuel the belief that keeps educators coming back, day after day, ready to help their students become everything they’re capable of becoming.

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Join the Mission

Every day, teachers show up for their students with passion, creativity, and dedication—but too many of them are doing it without the supplies they need to create the learning environments their students deserve. No teacher should have to choose between giving their students the best education possible and paying out of pocket for basic classroom materials.

You can help change that!

At Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), we believe every student deserves equal access to the resources needed for a quality education. We work to foster equitable learning spaces by providing essential supplies to under-resourced students and teachers nationwide, focusing on schools where 70% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. For more information, visit kinf.org and follow @KidsInNeed on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.