The Back-to-School Buzz Fades. The Need for Classroom Supplies Doesn't.

Kids In Need Foundation's Ready, Set, Restock campaign highlights the midyear classroom supply gap and helps ensure students and teachers have the materials they need for the remaining school year.

LITTLE CANADA, Minn., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The first day of school brings fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils and the promise of a new year. But as the months pass, pencils shrink, notebooks fill up and classroom supplies run low. For many students and teachers, replacing those essentials is challenging. While the back-to-school season may end, the need for classroom resources continues throughout the school year.

Through its Ready, Set, Restock campaign, Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) is calling attention to this often-overlooked midyear gap and helping replenish the materials students and teachers rely on every day.

The need is already evident by the second semester. Among students supported by KINF, 64% run out of school supplies by the second semester. KINF's Teacher Insight Survey also found that approximately 75% of classroom supplies are depleted by winter break, rising to 96% by spring. Additionally, the survey found that 40% of educators reported their students rely on school for access to hygiene items.

When supplies run short, the impact extends beyond the materials themselves. Students need the tools to participate in classroom activities, express their ideas and engage in learning alongside their peers.

An elementary school teacher in Fridley, Minnesota, explained the impact on students: "It's about access and dignity. Not having the right materials can make it harder to participate, stay organized or feel confident. Something as simple as not having a pencil, a folder or a whiteboard can quietly exclude a student from a lesson, affecting engagement and a sense of belonging."

They also emphasized the challenges of the midyear supply gap: "Supply issues don't just happen at the start of the year. They show up midyear, when supplies run out, there's no easy way to restock. That's when teachers are often the most stretched."

A teacher in Ohio described how this disrupts classroom routines: "Midyear, it's more about disruption. We already have our routines, so when things run out, it throws everything off. I end up adjusting lessons on the fly, especially with hands-on activities, and sometimes I'm choosing what we can do based on what we have instead of what would be best."

"I think sometimes there's this idea that you get school supplies at the beginning of the year and it lasts the whole year," said educator Cassie McClain. "Even if kids bring school supplies at the beginning of the year, you go through pencils, you go through erasers, you go through markers, you go through notebooks—they're using them!"

Through Ready, Set, Restock, community members and corporate partners can help replenish essential school supplies for the second half of the school year. A $10 gift provides fresh supplies for one student, while a $250 classroom kit equips up to 24 students. Kits include everyday essentials such as pencils, crayons, glue sticks and notebooks to help students and teachers stay equipped for learning. Companies and community groups can also participate through donations, sponsorships and hands-on volunteer packing events.

"When students have the supplies they need, they have more opportunities to participate, explore their ideas and engage fully in learning," said Annie Nelson Stanoch, VP of Impact Partnerships at KINF. "Ready, Set, Restock helps close the gap between the start of the school year and what students and teachers need to keep learning going. Every contribution helps put essential resources back into classrooms."

How to Get Involved

• Donate: Support Ready, Set, Restock to help replenish classroom supplies for students and teachers.
• Partner with KINF: Companies can sponsor kits, support distribution costs or host volunteer packing events.
• Spread the word: Follow Kids In Need Foundation on LinkedIn and @KidsInNeed on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION

At Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), we believe every student should have 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.

SOURCE Kids In Need Foundation