Stores and companies that give away free school supplies each year
This page covers national corporations and nonprofits that run annual free school supply programs for children from low-income families, including backpack giveaways at retail stores and supply distribution through school-based programs. These are separate from community-level events run by local nonprofits, churches, and social service agencies — for those, calling 211 or contacting your local Salvation Army is the fastest way to find what is happening near you.
- KEY NOTE: Timing matters — most of these programs happen between June and September, and some require registration in advance or have limited supply on a first-come, first-served basis.
Back-to-school costs add up quickly for families already stretching a limited income. Backpacks, notebooks, pencils, folders, binders, and other supplies can easily run over $100 per child, and that is before clothing or technology. Several national companies and nonprofits run programs every year specifically to reduce that cost for students in lower-income households. For additional help with school costs, also see guide to free school supplies from charities which includes a list of local options and information on free or low cost tablets for students.
Kids In Need Foundation
Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) is a national nonprofit that has been distributing free school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools since 1995. Corporate partners including Office Depot, Sharpie, and Elmer's support the foundation's supply drives each year. The foundation focuses specifically on schools where 70% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals — which means the families it serves are, by definition, at the lower end of the income scale.
KINF runs two main programs families and teachers should know about. The Supply A Student program provides students with a backpack filled with school supplies. The Supply A Teacher program sends boxes of essential classroom items directly to teachers at qualifying schools, which also benefits students indirectly by making sure their classrooms are stocked. To find local events or apply for teacher supplies, go to https://www.kinf.org/.
TCC and Wireless Zone — Verizon Authorized Retailers
TCC and Wireless Zone, both authorized Verizon retailers operating under Round Room, run the largest single-day corporate backpack giveaway in the country. The annual event, called the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, takes place at more than 1,000 store locations simultaneously, typically on a Sunday in late July at 1 p.m. local time. In some years over 100,000 backpacks, full of supplies, were distributed nationwide.
The giveaway is open to any family — no proof of income is required. One backpack is given per child, the child must be present, and backpacks go on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Some locations add activities like food trucks or games to make the event a community gathering. To find a participating store near you before the next event, use the store locator at https://www.tccrocks.com/backpack-giveaway/ or look at https://wirelesszone.com/backpack-giveaway/. The giveaway has run every year since 2013, so families are generally safe to plan on it returning each summer.
Operation Homefront & the Dollar Tree — Back-to-School Brigade (Military Families)
This one is easy to overlook if you are not a military family, but it is one of the largest and most consistent school supply programs in the country and worth knowing about if you have a connection to the military. Operation Homefront has run its Back-to-School Brigade every year since 2008, distributing backpacks filled with grade-appropriate school supplies to children of active-duty service members and veterans at events across all 50 states. In some years over 40,000 backpacks are given out nationwide.
Eligibility is specific: children must be enrolled in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) and entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Registration opens each June through the Operation Homefront website, and spots fill quickly at popular locations. Dollar Tree stores support the program by running in-store donation drives, which is also how the program gets funded year to year. To register or find an event near you, go to https://operationhomefront.org/back-to-school-brigade. Local Dollar Tree stores often have information as well. For military families struggling with back-to-school costs on top of a relocation or other transition, this program is worth checking every June without fail.
Office Depot — Teacher Supply Support
The Office Depot program has shifted its focus to supporting teachers in high-need districts rather than direct student giveaways. Teachers at qualifying schools can now receive supply support through the current program. Office Depot also runs strong back-to-school sales each July and August with supplies priced as low as 25 cents, and has a Give Back to Schools program where purchases made with a school ID on file generate 5% in credits for that school. For families shopping on a budget during back-to-school season, Office Depot is worth checking for penny and clearance deals alongside regular retailers. Visit https://www.officedepot.com/l/rewards/teachers for current offerings.
Target
Target does not run a direct free school supply giveaway for families, but it does partner with organizations like United Way and Kids In Need Foundation on back-to-school campaigns in some markets. Target also offers a teacher discount program through Target Circle, which gives verified teachers 20% off on qualifying purchases. Families should check with their local Target store in July and August to see if any community events or partnerships are active in their area that season.
Boys and Girls Club of America
Local Boys and Girls Clubs partner with national corporations and area businesses each back-to-school season to provide students in low-income communities with supplies, backpacks, and in some cases clothing or food. The specifics vary significantly by location and year depending on what sponsors each club has lined up. Contact your nearest Boys and Girls Club directly in June or July to ask what is planned for the coming school year. Find your local club at https://www.bgca.org/get-involved/find-a-club/.
How to Apply and When to Start Looking
Most programs that require advance registration open applications between May and July, so it pays to look early rather than waiting until August. For first-come, first-served events like the Verizon retailer giveaways, showing up at or before the advertised start time is important — supplies at popular locations can run out within the first hour. The Salvation Army is a reliable local referral point for families trying to find community-level supply events that are not listed by national programs, and the United Way runs back-to-school campaigns in many markets as well.
For details on United Way school supply assistance programs, see the linked page. Dialing 211 connects you to a local operator who can tell you about events, giveaways, and assistance programs in your specific area.
This page provides general information about school supply assistance programs based on publicly available details. Program availability, dates, and eligibility requirements change from year to year. Confirm current offerings directly with each organization or store before making plans based on specific events described here.
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