Trying to find free school supplies can feel overwhelming, especially when back-to-school costs seem to go up every single year.
Whether you’re a parent with a long checklist, a teacher trying to stock your classroom, or a student on a tight budget, the expense is real.
I don’t have kids myself, but I know from talking to my friends and family members who do, it costs an arm and a leg to send kids back to school these days.
And I get it. Buying “cheap” school supplies helps a little, but finding them for free is so much better.
Back-to-school costs are a real burden for a lot of families.
According to the National Retail Federation, families now spend an average of $858 on back-to-school items. That’s especially tough when you consider that around 14.8 million U.S. children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
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While this is my complete guide on how to get free school supplies, it’s just one part of a larger strategy to reduce your costs, which you can learn about in my ultimate guide to getting free stuff.
In this post, I will share only the most legitimate charities, programs, and methods I’ve found for getting notebooks, backpacks, pens, and other school supplies, without paying a dime.
Note on safety: All the programs, charities, and giveaways listed in this guide are legitimate and safe. You won’t be asked for credit card information to receive supplies, and most require only basic proof of eligibility (like school enrollment or income verification).
Table of Contents
Your Step-by-Step Action Plan for Getting Free School Supplies
Before you start looking for free school supplies, it helps to have a strategy.
Just randomly searching online won’t get you very far.
But with a simple plan, you can cover a big portion of your child’s list without spending a dime.
Here are a few “golden rules” to follow that will save you time and make the entire process much smoother.
- Start Early (Think July): Most of the big back-to-school drives happen in July and early August. If you wait until the last minute, you will have missed the best opportunities.
- Get Your Documents Ready: Many of the official programs require some paperwork. To make the process fast and easy, have your documents (like a photo ID and proof of address or income) gathered and ready to go.
- Focus on Local Programs First: Your fastest and most reliable help will almost always come from right in your own community.
To make it super easy, follow these four steps to cover your child’s school supply needs without spending a dime:
- Call Your School District: Ask about any supplies set aside for students in need and any local programs they recommend.
- Check 211: Dial 211 or visit 211.org to find all local charities, non-profits, and back-to-school drives in your area.
- Contact Local Charities & Community Groups: Reach out to churches, Salvation Army, United Way, and neighborhood nonprofits to see if they’re running supply giveaways.
- Order Free Items by Mail: Use the “free school supplies by mail” section of this guide to get pens, pencils, stickers, calendars, and other items delivered straight to your home.
Following this simple checklist ensures you’re covering all angles and maximizing your chances of getting everything for free.
National Charities & Non-Profits That Give Away Free School Supplies
Some of the most dependable ways to get free school supplies come from large national organizations.
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These non-profits run annual back-to-school drives and supply giveaways that help families across the country.
They’re a reliable place to look if you need free backpacks, notebooks, pens, or other essentials for the new school year.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army helps families in many ways, including distributing free backpacks and school supplies during the back-to-school season.
Local centers across the U.S. host events where kids can pick up the supplies they need.
To get started, contact your nearest Salvation Army location and ask about their school supply programs and distribution dates.
United Way
United Way is another amazing organization. While they might run their own supply drives, their most powerful tool is a confidential service called 211.
By dialing 211 or visiting their website, you can connect directly with local charities, churches, and community centers that are giving away free or low-cost school supplies near you. It’s like having a personal directory of every program in your area.
Kids In Need Foundation
I love this charity. The Kids In Need Foundation focuses on making sure teachers and students have the tools they need.
Through a national network of resource centers, they distribute free backpacks filled with school supplies.
You can visit their website to see if there’s an affiliate center in your area that can help.
Operation Homefront (for Military Families)
If you’re part of a military family, Operation Homefront’s “Back-to-School Brigade” is a must-know program.
Every year, they partner with Dollar Tree and other organizations to hand out hundreds of thousands of free backpacks and supplies for military children.
You can check their website for an event near you.
Pro Tip: Check Local Businesses for Giveaways
Most people overlook their neighborhood stores. Grocery stores, banks, and office supply shops sometimes run back-to-school giveaways or hand out coupons for free supplies.
A quick call or checking their websites and social media pages in July or early August can score you pens, notebooks, or even backpacks.
How to Get Free School Supplies from Local Community Programs Near You
One of the easiest ways to get help is through organizations right in your own neighborhood.
These groups know the community, understand the need, and usually have school supply giveaways set up right before the school year starts.
Check with Local Churches & Nonprofits
A lot of churches, temples, and community centers run back-to-school drives for families.
The good news?
You usually don’t need to be a member to get help. Just call a few places of worship or nonprofits near you and ask if they have a free school supply program or know of one happening nearby.
These events often hand out free backpacks stuffed with all the basics.
Pro Tip: Teacher Swap Networks
Teachers usually have leftover or extra supplies from previous years. Many local teacher groups, Facebook communities, or Nextdoor networks organize swaps.
Even if you’re a parent, you can sometimes access these events or ask a teacher friend to help, perfect for snagging gently used supplies.
Contact Your School District or Teacher
This should be one of your first calls.
Schools don’t want any student starting the year without the essentials, and most districts set aside supplies for families who need them.
It’s usually completely confidential too. Sometimes teachers even have extra supplies in the classroom ready to go.
Use 211.org to Find Free Back-to-School Programs
If you’re not sure where to start, dial “211” or visit 211.org.
It’s a free, confidential service that instantly connects you to local charities, nonprofits, and community programs (including school supply drives in your area).
Honestly, if you only try one resource, make it this one.
How to Get Free School Supplies by Mail in 2025
Maybe you don’t need a full backpack; maybe you just need a few items to check off your child’s list.
Believe it or not, there are legit ways to get individual school supplies mailed directly to your home for free.
And there are no income requirements or complicated forms to fill out.
Here’s the catch though…
Most of these are promotional offers from companies, so the trick is knowing where to find them.
I’ve written detailed guides on how to get all of these items.
Free Pens, Pencils & Calendars
Dozens of companies send out free pens and pencils as part of their marketing.
I have separate guides for each, where I show you exactly where to grab them.
And if you want to get organized, you can also print a high-quality school year calendar using the free templates in my guide.
Free Stickers & Address Labels
From decorating a notebook to personalizing supplies, free stickers are everywhere; you just need to know where to look.
I’ve listed over a hundred companies that will mail you free stickers, plus the best spots to score free address labels for school projects and mail.
Free Stamps & Envelopes
It’s not as common, but you can even find ways to get free postage and envelopes.
Most come through rewards programs or special promotions.
In these guides I show you how to find opportunities to get free stamps as well as a list of places where you can get free envelopes.
Pro Tip: Sign Up for Manufacturer Promotions
Some companies, like Crayola, Bic, and Office Depot, run promotions where they mail free school supplies to anyone who signs up for their newsletters or contests.
This is a great way to get high-quality pens, markers, or notebooks without spending a cent.
To make sure you don’t miss out, follow these brands on social media or even subscribe to their free newsletters (you can usually find the subscribe link on their homepage).
Saeed’s Pro Tip: The “Back-to-School Blitz” Strategy
Here’s my personal strategy for getting nearly 100% of your school supply list for free.
The main thing is combining the methods in this guide for maximum impact. Think of it as a one-two punch for back-to-school savings.
First, go big. Find one major local charity or back-to-school giveaway, like The Salvation Army, United Way, or a local church. Use this event to snag the most expensive, must-have items (think high-quality backpacks, binders, lunch boxes, and other core school supplies).
Then, go small. Once the big-ticket items are covered, turn to the “free school supplies by mail” section to fill in the gaps. Order individual items like free pens, pencils, stickers, calendars, and more. By combining a major local giveaway with a handful of mail-order freebies, you can get almost everything your child needs without spending a single dime.
Bonus Tip: Bring Your Own Bags! I know this sounds small, but trust me on this. Many giveaway events, especially the bigger ones, can be very crowded. The volunteers are focused on getting supplies to everyone, but they don’t always have enough bags.
Showing up with a few of your own sturdy reusable shopping bags makes the entire process faster and less stressful.
FAQ: Your Questions About Free School Supplies
Here are my answers to the questions I get asked most often.
The easiest way is to start with local community programs. Start by contacting your child’s school (they often have supplies for students in need). You can also call 211 or visit 211.org to find local charities and back-to-school drives offering free supplies.
You are not alone. National organizations like The Salvation Army, United Way, and the Kids In Need Foundation run programs specifically to help low-income families get free school supplies, from backpacks to notebooks and more.
Events happen at local community centers, churches, Salvation Army locations, and sometimes directly at schools. To find a “free school supplies near me” event, calling 211 is the fastest way to get up-to-date info for your town or city.
While there isn’t a single federal program just for school supplies, many government assistance programs can help cover back-to-school costs. For example, families on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) can often use those funds for supplies. Check with your local social services office to see what you qualify for.
Your college’s financial aid or student support office is the best place to start. Many universities offer emergency aid or vouchers for supplies. And don’t forget to check out my dedicated guide to freebies for college students for more opportunities.
Yes! Teachers can access programs through the Kids In Need Foundation and other organizations to “shop” for free classroom supplies. Check my guide on free stuff for teachers for even more resources.
The best way is to run a mini-drive with friends, family, or a community group. Organizations like United Way and The Salvation Army offer free school supply drive toolkits with checklists and promotional materials to help you collect donations for local schools or families in need.
Yes, it is sometimes possible. While most giveaway events focus on smaller supplies, some national and local programs do offer more expensive items like computers. You can learn more about them in my detailed guide on getting a free laptop for low income families.
Final Thoughts: A Less Stressful Back-to-School Season
As you can see, there’s a lot of support out there to help you get the free school supplies your child needs, without breaking your budget.
From national charities to the local church down the street, you don’t have to face the back-to-school expenses alone.
Now getting everything on your list for free might take a bit of planning, but it’s absolutely possible.
Start by making those few important phone calls to your local school and charities, and you’ll likely have your most expensive items covered.
By using this guide to find the free school supplies your family needs, you’re taking a smart and powerful step toward a less stressful, more affordable school year.
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