Feel Good Friday - Kids in Need Foundation

It’s that time of year when summer vacations are coming to an end and back-to-school plans are being made. What a great time to learn about the Kids in Need Foundation.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota the Kids in Need Foundation (KINF) “works to create equitable learning spaces by distributing supplies and resources to teachers and students in underserved schools, where 70% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)”.

In a survey conducted with teachers across 35 states, KINF found that 62% of students arrived without the necessary supplies on their first day, 62% of students did not have access to the necessary supplies at home and 69% of students did not have second semester replacement supplies. This lack of supplies not only impacts students class preparedness and participation, it affects their confidence levels, self esteem and social engagement at school. That’s where KINF comes in.

There are several programs focused on advancing educational equity. If you want to Supply a Student with the essentials for school, you can organize a backpack build for your organization or community group. Teachers working in schools where 50% of students are eligible for NSLP can receive a semester’s worth of core school supplies through the Supply a Teacher program.

The Second Responder program provides supplies to teachers and students affected by natural disasters around the country, and the The Rural and Indigenous School Equity program supports learning resource needs for teachers and students in rural and indigenous communities. Finally, there is a National Network of Resources Centers that provides teachers the opportunity to 'shop' for school supplies at ZERO cost to them.

In 2024, KINF provided $100 million in resources to more than 5 million students and over 200,000 teachers in all 50 states and Washington D.C. You can learn more by visiting the impact section of their website.

If this has inspired you, there are many ways you can support the Kids in Need Foundation. Volunteer your time, organize a backpack build, make a monetary donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow KINF on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.