If you’re a parent of an elementary school or high school student, shopping for school supplies and other items is probably a task that looms its way into your life year-after-year. 

We speak with teachers and parents daily and many of the folks on the Catie’s Closet team are parents themselves. We know very well that back-to-school shopping is an expensive, consistent part of raising a school-aged child or high school student.

According to the 2023 National Retail Federation survey for back-to-school season, families with elementary and high school students planned to spend an average of $890 on all back-to-school supplies and items, despite inflation impacting nearly every household. 

NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay stated, “The back-to-school season is among the most significant shopping events for consumers and retailers alike, second only to the winter holiday season.” 

Shay also explained that consumers considered back-to-school shopping essential and were doing whatever they could to afford their child’s back-to-school supplies, clothing, and other items. 

The survey also found that parents were reassessing their financial priorities and shopping plans/habits to ensure they could deliver during the back-to-school season. Families are starting to shop early, searching for back-to-school sales and discounts, opting for generic brands, comparing prices, using coupons, spending less overall, and making use out of last year’s items in order to afford all of their child’s school supplies and other items. 

This is especially true for families who saw growth spurts in their children and their back-to-school list included an entire new wardrobe. Ninety-five percent of shoppers plan on shopping for clothes.

The most costly parts of back–to-school shopping

The top two most costly categories for back-to-school shopping included electronics and computer-related items and clothing and accessories.

Each household expected to pay nearly $300 for clothing and accessories and 67% of shoppers noticed higher prices in this category.

What does this say about the average consumer?

These surveys considered situations experienced by the average consumer. 

The average consumer seems to have the ability and flexibility to fit back-to-school into their budget somehow, some way.

A frustrating, overwhelming task? Sure! But is it possible? It seems so!

But, what about families and children living in poverty?

The families that Catie’s Closet serves are not the average families that participated in these surveys.

We see each and every day the challenges families living in poverty or experiencing homelessness face as they try to meet their children’s basic needs on a daily basis, and the pressure they feel when back-to-school season rolls around.

Affording simple school supplies or even just a few staple items for their child’s closet is pretty much impossible. 

That’s why teachers and faculty from the 120+ schools we serve see students returning to school with the same clothes from the previous school year that no longer fit or have holes or rips. They also lack adequate school supplies to successfully participate and learn in their classes.

Students who start the school year off in the fall struggle to return in the winter because they do not have appropriate clothing or outerwear to make it to school in the cold, snow and ice. They fall behind and disengage completely.

Now, can you imagine there being no option to afford school supplies for your child for back to school or throughout the year? Or, can you imagine being a student beginning a new school year without school supplies, including clothes, outerwear, undergarments and toiletries?

Clothing and other basic necessities are critical to a child’s healthy development. Consistent access to essentials prevents bullying, builds students’ confidence, and provides them with a sense of relief that changes the trajectory of their lives.

That’s where Catie’s Closet comes in.

Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of students in our local communities know the reality of not having adequate clothing, toiletries and school supplies to start and continue the school year on the right foot.

But, fortunately, there are thousands of compassionate individuals and groups who want to help lift this burden off our students’ shoulders. These generous folks partner with us to give students free access to clothing, toiletries, school supplies, and other basic necessities via free stores built right inside their schools. 

Each year, more than 80,000 students across 120+ schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire visit their schools’ Catie’s Closet to obtain the school supplies and essential items they need to thrive in school and in life.

How you can help, too.

Yes, shopping for school supplies and other back-to-school necessities can be a hassle for every family. 

For the families we serve, it’s not even an option. 

While you’re back-to-school shopping, consider helping a student who is less fortunate by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish Lists.

Choose which area you want to support, and your donation will ship right to our Distribution Center and then be delivered to a school in your chosen area. Thank you so much for your support!

Want to learn more ways you can help students during every season of the year?

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