More than ever, we need to look out for each other. Our lives have been turned upside down, and every day seems to bring new challenges and greater uncertainty. That’s why we’ve put together this list of organizations that support students in need, including yours! Check them out to see how to connect your students to the resources they offer.
Feeding America
The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food banks, food pantries, and meal programs, as well as their School Pantry Program and BackPack Program.
- Get help: Look into the various ways you can get food for you and your students.
- You can help: Donate or volunteer to run their soup kitchens, food pantries, and food banks.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day is a campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated—all through the power of entertainment.
- Get help: Red Nose Day funds these grantee partners. Click to learn more.
- You can help: Donate today to the Full Plate Project for those in need of meals over the holidays or look into their programs for your school.
Kids in Need Foundation
This large-scale charity provides a backpack filled with school supplies to a student in need. Kids in Need empowers groups and companies to come together to host backpack builds, fundraise to adopt a school in need, or provide company match programs.
- Get Help: Find a center near you or enroll to get school products.
- You can help: Volunteer to donate time, money, or products.
No Kid Hungry
No Kid Hungry works to end child hunger in America by ensuring that all children get the healthy food they need every day to thrive.
- Get help: Enter your address to find free meals in your area.
- You can help: Donate money or dine, shop, and share to contribute.
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Schools on Wheels
School on Wheels volunteers provide free tutoring and mentoring to children from kindergarten through twelfth grade living in shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster homes, and the streets of Southern California. There are other chapters too, such as School on Wheels of Massachusetts, so search for one in your area!
- Get help: Browse their available services.
- You can help: Donate or volunteer to help.
DonorsChoose
Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials for their students.
- Get help: Make a request today.
- You can help: Fulfill a teacher request with a gift of any amount.
Operation Backpack
Every year, Operation Backpack has relied on the generosity of donors to ensure that every child living in a New York City homeless or domestic violence shelter has a top-quality backpack filled with grade-specific supplies. Not in New York? Do a search to find a chapter nearest you.
- Get help: Apply for services here.
- You can help: Donate here.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America takes multiple approaches to helping kids succeed. They offer trained, caring mentors, fun and safe places to grow and thrive, and innovative, quality programs designed to empower youth to excel in school and lead healthy, productive lives.
- Get help: Look into their programs here.
- You can help: Volunteer, start a club, or join the movement!
First Book
First Book believes that education is the best path out of poverty for kids in need, but access to quality education is far from equal. Kids in low-income communities may have significantly less access to books and learning materials and a lack of diversity in the books that do reach them. First Book’s mission is to remove these barriers so every child has the chance to learn. To combat academic backsliding and emotional isolation, First Book has deployed nearly two million books to emergency feeding sites, homeless shelters, and other programs.
- Get help: Research the books in their book bank today!
- You can help: Sign up to donate once or monthly.
EveryoneOn
Millions of students are learning from home right now, but at least 15 percent of U.S. households with school-age children don’t have high-speed internet connections. EveryoneOn works to bring low-cost Internet and computer offers to those in need.
- Get help: Look into local offers to share with your students and their families.
- You can help: Donate to help cover Internet services.
Comp-U-Dot
Comp-U-Dopt is an organization that provides technology access and education to underserved youth. They believe that every child deserves equal access to education and opportunity.
- Get help: Look into their programs to get computers for your students.
- You can help: Donate money or volunteer your time.
Do you know of any other organizations that support students in need? Please share in the comments below.
Plus, check out 13 Alternatives to Holiday Classroom Parties in 2020.
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