“Our students are the future, and we need to invest in them,” says Griffin Fox, a sixth-grade English Language Arts teacher in St. Paul, Minnesota. “We need to make sure that they are learning well, that they fall in love with learning, and that they have the resources and the environment to do that.”

After six years as a classroom educator, Griffin knows that those resources can take many forms.

In his English Language Arts classroom, pencils are essential, but so are supplies that give students different ways to engage with what they are learning. Coloring and illustrating, for example, can give students another avenue to explore a story, communicate an idea or demonstrate their understanding.

Free School Supplies Help Teachers Focus on Their Students

Keeping those resources available throughout an entire school year can be challenging. Pencils disappear or wear down. Markers dry out. Crayons break. Erasers get used.

For Natalie Jones, who has been teaching for about 16 years, support from Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) means knowing she has somewhere to turn when her students and classroom need those resources.

“The Kids In Need Foundation is that email that you look forward to,” Natalie says. “It’s Christmas shopping every single time.”

Through KINF’s Teacher Resource Center in Little Canada, MN, Natalie has been able to find everything from essential school supplies to books she can add to her classroom library or send home with students. Access to diverse books helps her put more stories into students’ hands, while other resources have helped her create new opportunities for learning and play.

But just as important are the everyday classroom staples.

“Pencils that get worn throughout the year, erasers, markers and crayons — things that get worn over, broken down and just need to be replaced,” Natalie says.

For teachers, replacing those seemingly small items can become an ongoing responsibility. Having access to free classroom supplies helps remove some of that burden while making sure students can continue learning without worrying about whether the tools they need are available.

Teachers Across the Country Are Facing the Same Challenge

Natalie’s experience reflects what educators across the country tell Kids In Need Foundation.

According to KINF’s Teacher Insight Survey, more than half of students begin the school year without all the supplies they need, and 64% run out of supplies by the second semester and cannot easily replace them. When those resources run short, teachers are often left finding ways to fill the gaps themselves or adapting lessons based on what is available.

That makes access to classroom resources about much more than pencils, crayons or markers. Having the right tools gives teachers greater freedom to create the learning experiences their students need—and helps students participate without being singled out because of what they do or don’t have.

When Teachers Feel Supported, Students Benefit

The impact of providing school supplies extends beyond the supplies themselves.

For Griffin, support from Kids In Need Foundation also sends an important message to educators.

“The role that Kids In Need Foundation plays is tremendously important for me as an educator to feel seen and appreciated and to have the needs met of my students,” he says.

Griffin’s experience is echoed by educators across KINF’s network. In KINF’s Teacher Insight Survey, 98–99% of teachers who accessed KINF Resource Center support reported positive impacts on teaching, learning and student engagement, including their ability to create a more equitable learning environment.

When teachers have access to the resources their classrooms need, they have more freedom to focus their energy where it belongs: on their students.

And ultimately, that’s what supporting teachers is all about: giving educators the resources they need so they can give students more opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.

Read More Teacher Stories like Griffin & Natalie’s

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.