When Mateo walked into the Club last August, he was quiet and withdrawn. His mom had recently lost her job, and buying school supplies just wasn’t in the budget. With only a few worn pencils and no backpack, Mateo was already dreading the first day of school.
“I felt really stressed,” he said. “I didn’t want people to notice I didn’t have stuff.”
But thanks to generous supporters like you, our staff were able to step in. Mateo received a brand-new backpack filled with notebooks, folders, markers, and everything he needed to feel confident and ready to learn.
His smile said it all.
This year, hundreds of kids like Mateo will walk through our Club doors, many carrying more worries than school supplies. You can help us change that.
2 Ways to Make a Difference:
Your donation helps us purchase exactly what’s needed—from backpacks and binders to new shoes and hygiene kits. Every $50 helps one child start school with confidence.
Prefer to shop directly? Choose from our carefully curated list of items and have them shipped straight to the Club.
The National Retail Federation estimates parents will pay an average of $849 per household on school supplies, an amount that many of our Club families cannot afford. We invite you to help offset this cost by participating in our annual Boys & Girls Clubs School Supply Challenge.
1 in 5 kids reports feeling embarrassed or anxious when they don’t have the same school supplies as their peers.
Students who start the year with all the required supplies are 30% more likely to participate in class and engage with teachers and peers.
Every child deserves to walk into the classroom feeling confident, prepared, and proud. With your help, we can remove barriers for kids like Mateo and ensure that every Club member starts the school year with the tools they need—and the belief that they belong. Whether you give a little or a lot, your support goes straight to the hearts—and backpacks—of our youth. Together, let’s make back-to-school season something every child can look forward to.