Back-to-School, Round Two: Helping Teachers Build Care Closets

Care Closets have become lifelines for many students, especially in underserved communities. These distinct spaces, maintained by teachers and school staff, are stocked with academic supplies and personal care items to help students thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Care closets offer everything from pencils and notebooks to hygiene products, winter clothing, and even non-perishable snacks — essentials many students may lack at home.

Despite facing low pay and rising inflation, U.S. teachers spend between $500 and $750 each year on school supplies for their students, according to the National Association of Education. This same resource notes that the average public school teacher in America makes just under $70,000, yet a significant portion of their hard-earned income goes toward supporting students and establishing Care Closets. One U.S. Department of Education study found that 94 percent of teachers use their own money to purchase classroom necessities. Other school professionals — bus drivers, front office staff, classroom aides, and custodians — also contribute by spending their wages on student supplies.

Teachers across America typically stock their Care Closets at the start of the academic year. Yet, midway between semesters, they find their inventory significantly depleted. When students head back to the second half of the school year after the December holiday break, it’s important to support teachers in restocking their Care Closets with key essentials to make the school year as successful as possible.

The Second Back-to-School Season

When we think about the back-to-school season, we often picture the late summer rush of shopping for backpacks, notebooks, and pencils as kids prepare for a new school year. However, savvy educators and parents know that a second back-to-school season begins after the December holiday break. This lesser-known season is a crucial time when classrooms and supplies need refreshing, students return with new needs, and teachers strive to create a nurturing environment as they kick off the spring semester. This includes replenishing their Care Closets with essential items.

As winter arrives, the demand for resources increases, particularly for warm clothing like gloves, hats, and coats. By January, classrooms have been in use for five months, causing pencils to break, notebooks to fill up, and glue to run dry. Teachers’ tight budgets are often stretched thin, and some students may face new challenges upon returning to school. For example, some families might experience financial strain after the holidays, making it difficult for parents to provide necessary items for their children.

The increased demands on Care Closets and teachers contribute to a higher risk of burnout among educators. According to Psychology Today, teaching roles are now more susceptible to burnout than ever. The main factors include a lack of support, student discipline issues, and insufficient resources to facilitate student learning. Additionally, compassion fatigue is a significant concern, especially in underserved schools, with 73% of teachers reporting job-related stress, according to NEA Today.

How You Can Help Schools and Teachers in the New Year

Every day, teachers play a vital role in educating our nation’s youth. It’s time we step up to support their efforts to help students. Here are some tips to help teachers restock their Care Closets for the second back-to-school season:

• Ask Teachers What They Need: Every classroom has unique needs. Reach out to teachers or school administrators directly to learn what items would be most helpful.
• Donate Bulk Supplies: Items like pencils, paper, markers, tissues, and disinfectant wipes are always in high demand. Healthy snacks or prepared meals are also greatly appreciated. Donating in bulk ensures classrooms are well-stocked without straining your budget.
• Provide Personal Care Essentials: Hygiene items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and feminine products are crucial for students’ confidence and well-being, yet these items are often overlooked.
• Sponsor a Teacher or Classroom: Consider partnering with your local school to “adopt” a classroom by providing a steady stream of supplies. Build a close relationship with the teacher so they can reach out to you when items are needed.
• Deliver Peace of Mind for the Holidays: Before students head off for winter break, reach out to a teacher to discuss how you can support them. You could even consider delivering the goods before the holiday vacation. Knowing their classroom needs are covered can allow teachers to enjoy a stress-free holiday season.
• Spread the Word and Encourage Involvement: Share the idea of Care Closets and their impact during the second back-to-school season with your community — family, colleagues, neighbors, and friends. This innovative approach to community support directly benefits children and is rewarding to participate in. Raising awareness will help drive involvement and participation.

At DollarDays, we’re committed to supporting those who dedicate their lives to shaping young minds. By recognizing the importance of the second back-to-school season and helping to stock Care Closets, we can all contribute to ensuring that every child starts the new year with the essentials they need to thrive.

Our diverse range of products includes everything from bulk school supplies like pencils, paper, and notebooks to personal care items like shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. These resources are vital for creating a nurturing environment where students can focus on learning and growth.

We invite you to join us in empowering teachers and supporting students. Your contributions, whether donating bulk supplies or sponsoring a classroom, make a significant impact. Visit our website to explore our selection of products and see how you can help make a difference in your local schools today.

Let’s come together to support those who serve others — one Care Closet at a time — to help create a brighter future for our children.

Apparel matters. Clothing serves as more than just covering and protection. It can be a medium through which we express who we are—our values, our mood, and our style.

There is debate about whether school uniforms or dress codes benefit students. Many believe that uniformity instills a sense of belonging and respect and reduces social distractions, aiding learning during the formative years for school-age children. However, some argue that it may suppress individuality, hinder personal growth, and contradict First Amendment rights and freedom of speech.

While the deliberation continues, school uniform policies among public schools in the U.S. have grown from just 3% in the 1995–1996 academic year to 20% in the 2011–2012 season. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, that figure still hovers around 20% today.

The National Institutes of Health cites that the growth in school uniforms has been fueled by the belief that uniform policies level the playing field in schools, help improve students’ academic achievement and social-behavioral engagement, and enhance student safety. The NIH also cites that critics of school uniforms argue student achievement, behavior, and self-esteem will decrease rather than increase and that classroom stratification will not only remain, but uniforms actually add further financial hardship on low-income families who now must purchase required clothing.

According to NerdWallet and its recent 2024 Harris Poll back-to-school spending survey, 42% of American parents of children in K–12 or college say they’d go into debt to pay for back-to-school items that would help their child fit in at school. That, of course, includes their child’s back-to-school clothing.

Common public school dress codes typically include khaki bottoms and solid tops, such as a classic tee shirt or polo. Even with no dress code policy, these essentials make for a great back-to-school style! Whether or not there is a uniform policy, families on a tight budget and organizations that support the underserved can turn to online resources to find high-quality materials, construction, and stitching—with the latest trend details—at a great bulk price.

For example, polos, a hot back-to-school item, are priced at under $6 each!

Back-to-School Clothing Essentials for Boys

Khaki Pants: Try this slim-fit style with super stretchy cotton-spandex-nylon woven fabric in both classic and dark khaki hues at just $13 a pair! Or check out this hybrid pant that fuses style, comfort, and function, perfect for the active and adventurous youth and priced at under $12 a pair.

Solid Tops: This classic three-button polo comes in eight color options, features a comfortable stretch cotton-polyester blend fabric, and is around $5 a shirt—among THE MOST affordable polo offered at retail today! Or try out this short-sleeved button-down shirt in classic blue that features a high-quality Oxford material and prices out at just $9.49 each. While this classic, logo-free crew-neck cotton tee, offered in an array of nine colors, costs only $3.50 each.

Footwear: Any child would love to sport this low-cut court sneaker featuring an all-white faux leather upper with accents of black and red. It is super affordable at $14.50 a pair. This canvas slip-on style, offered in black, navy, and white, features tonal piping, elastic detail, and rubber sole and is priced at $8.38 a pair.

Back-to-School Clothing Essentials for Girls

Khaki Bottoms: Try this flat-front pant, priced at $8.05 a pair, featuring a classic straight-leg style with slash pockets and a cotton-polyester blend fabric designed to keep its shape all school-day long. Or this classic four-pleat skort with its three-button detail. At just $9.50 each, this style is sure to deliver comfort and style for an active day at school.

Solid Tops: This logo-free girls’ three-button polo is priced at $7.40 a shirt, comes in eight solid colors, and features a cotton-spandex pique fabric with a cap sleeve design. There’s also this thermal long-sleeved crew neck style, under $5 each, which comes in black, red, and royal blue and is perfect for colder climates or the cooler winter months.

Footwear: To start off in the often warm back-to-school season, these on-trend bubble clogs feature an airy design in turquoise, pink, and black at under $7 a pair, while this classic lace-up canvas sneaker is under $8 a pair and comes in white, black, and red.

“Our back-to-school collection celebrates diversity and individuality, offering a wide range of styles that empower every child to express who they are with confidence and joy,” said Christie Cottier, head of merchandising for DollarDays. “As we create our collections, we always have the end-user in mind. When it comes to our back-to-school products, we look for ways to infuse the latest trend details and high quality at always the very best price possible.”

Cottier also reminds online purchasers to review the product case details. Bulk purchases deliver a great unit price, with cases offering a range of sizes in quantities from 12 to 144 or more units.

Even if your school does not have a school uniform policy, many parents choose the simplicity of creating uniformity in their child’s school apparel. Purchasing five of the same bottoms—such as khaki shorts, pants, or skorts—and five of the same tops—such as a collared polo or crisp button-down shirt—makes getting dressed on school day mornings a breeze.

Parents or guardians looking to get the latest high-quality items at a great price can team up with other parents and save time by purchasing bulk back-to-school essentials. The products can be shipped—just in time for the back-to-school season—to wherever is most convenient, such as someone’s home or the school, for easy distribution.

Even more importantly, people and organizations can give to a school in the community where there is a need by sponsoring school apparel—making a bulk purchase and shipping the product directly to the school of choice to help students in need. Imagine the joy such a shipment will bring students, parents, teachers, and staff alike!

From bottoms, tops, undergarments, and socks to footwear, loungewear, active wear, hats, accessories, and more, shop the retail industry’s highest quality back-to-school apparel items at a great price today!