Free School Supplies by Mail – It is no surprise that school supplies are expensive. Countless parents in United States are struggling every year to ensure that their children have the things they need at school. This adds up to the financial burden, because they also have to pay tuition fees and saving up for college.
Recent survey has shown that there’s an increase of school supplies spending this year, as compared to the previous years. The average money spent for school supplies is currently at $674. That’s a lot of money.Seeing this reality, it is only natural that parents are looking for ways to save money. One of them is by finding free school supplies by mail.
Where can I get Free School Supplies by Mail
There are some organizations that may be able to provide needy students with the school supplies they need. One of these organizations is the Kids in Need Foundation (KINF). According to their executive, parents who have low income can actually find some sort of help, if they are willing to search for it.
The Kids in Need Foundation, with the help of school districts and teachers across the country have been carrying out an excellent program called the backpack program that gives out school supplies for free for needy children. Based on the judgement of the teacher, children who come from families that are struggling financially will receive school supplies. This organization also provides help for teachers in the form of teacher grant program and free teacher resource center. For more information about their programs, you can contact them directly through their website available in the references section below or you can simply call 613-465-0135.
There’s also a way that many parents don’t realize. They might not be able to provide the supplies you need due to tight budget, but you can actually contact your school and ask them to work together with the KINF on your behalf.
Besides trying to reach out organizations such as the KINF, you can try to seek help from a local social service agency such as United Way or Boys & Girls Club. These organizations might be able to help a portion of the fee, or at least they can connect you to other parties that can help. You can also try to contact local religious communities such as churches, mosques, or synagogues where you are a member. They usually have donators that donate their money for social purposes.
Note that almost all of the options above cannot send you the school supplies by mail. However, getting them for free is good enough, right?
Finding Cheap School Supplies
The options above are meant for families who are in extreme financial problems that cannot afford to buy school supplies because they really have no money. If you still have some money to buy school supplies but you still find it lacking, you can try to find cheap school supplies that will cut down your expenses. Here are your options:
- Find used stuffs
It’s not a secret that school children do not need a high-end laptop, nor a branded backpack. For items such as these, you can try to fund and buy used stuffs from your local market. Alternatively, you can also find online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or even Craigslist.
- Special stores
There are some stores that provide affordable kids apparel and school supplies, with the cost of each item is often less than $5. These stores are often called consignment stores. Some provide online services, such as swap.com. You can also look for cheap items in dollar stores. Last but not least, you can search for discounted items at Wal-Mart!
I hope this post can help you search cheap or free school supplies for your children.
References:
- Swap.com – Online Consignment
- Kids in Need Foundation
- United Way
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- Image: frugalfindsduringnaptime.com
