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Kids in Need Foundation Kicks Off School Readiness Program

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 03/05/14

The Kids in Need Foundation has launched the 2014 School Ready Supplies program in an effort to help students from low-income families start the 2014 school year with the tools they need.

"The School Ready Supplies program helps to support efforts by schools, social service agencies, and other organizations in local communities that provide free school supplies to children in need," said Dave Smith, executive director of the Kids In Need Foundation, in a prepared statement. "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 program provides backpacks at sponsored events with approximately 20 supplies, which vary by grade level and include paper, pencils, markers, folders, scissors and more.

Individuals or organizations interested in participating in the program can contact Darren Harper at [email protected].