DAYTON - The Kids In Need Foundation, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to providing free school supplies to economically disadvantaged school children and under-funded teachers, announces the 2013 launch of the School Ready Supplies program. The program provides backpacks filled with age appropriate school supplies to groups and organizations across the U.S. that will be conducting school supply giveaways at back-to-school events in their local communities.

“The School Ready Supplies program helps to support efforts to get free school supplies to students in need who are not served by our national network of Resource Centers,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Kids In Need Foundation.  “More and more communities are recognizing the importance of getting school supplies to students whose families cannot afford to purchase them, so those students can participate on a level playing field with other students.  Principals and teachers tell us that many kids who don’t have supplies stay home the first couple of weeks of school because they can’t join their classmates in showing off their new supplies.   They’re behind when they go, and they can’t recover because they still don’t have the school supplies they need to do their work.”

The School Ready Supplies program can provide backpacks and supplies for events that are sponsored by community businesses and individuals.  The backpacks can be prepared for either elementary or middle/high school students and contain approximately 20 items, including the basics – pencils, pens, paper, crayons (elementary), markers, and glue – as well as extras like folders, scissors, erasers, highlighters, and more.  The backpacks are then delivered on the date and to the location requested.

Inquiries about the program from groups and organizations are being answered with specific information applicable to the individual events.  Inquiries should be directed to Darren Haper at 937-296-1230, ext. 312, or darrenh@kinf.org.