I’ve been using Kidsmart for over 15 years, and I can’t recommend them highly enough! This incredible organization provides free supplies to teachers, and I've personally benefited from thousands of dollars worth of materials. From essential items like pencils and paper to larger needs like furniture, Kidsmart has consistently supported my classroom and enhanced my students' learning experience. Their commitment to education is truly remarkable, and I’m grateful for the resources they offer. If you’re a teacher in need, Kidsmart is a fantastic resource!
Kidsmart is a great resource for teachers in the St Louis area! From pencils and paper, for our students, to office supplies, for teachers, they have it all! They also provide great opportunities for teachers to serve as volunteers in the teacher supply store and warehouse and events that they sponsor (or co-sponsor).
I love KidSmart! I have been using them for years! They have always been the place to go when our own pockets have gotten tired and exhausted. They give us basic needs like pencils, paper, crayons, glue, etc. But, they also have things that are far beyond the everyday usage like furniture, hand sanitizer, Lysol, books, etc. They even have things that you didn't know you needed until you see it there and you are appreciative. I only shop there when I am in need because I believe that a lot of new teachers or teachers who have changed grade levels or subjects are in need before me. When I go, I come back and share with my colleagues. They give us so much that you can't help but to share. The volunteers are always so nice and helpful too. I appreciate the generosity of the donors because being a teacher is hard. We don't get paid our worth and we use our money to help our students as well as our families. We definitely can use the extra help from our donors through KidSmart. Whoever started this program, you are getting cyber hugs and kisses! THANK YOU!!!
Kidsmart's committment to learners in the St. Louis County area is unmatched by any organization I know. They help you with the basics. The "shops and drive throughs" are excellent and provide much needed matericals for creativity that may not be accessible with your budget. Because of Kidsmart, no student in my school goes without basic supplies and reading materials.
I experience KidSmart as both a volunteer and a teacher in a low income school district. I especially appreciate the shopping days for teachers, and DAILY I am using the materials and supplies in my classroom with gratitude. Plus KidSmart people are supportive and positive; I feel encouraged every time I go. Highly recommend.
I volunteered today with my place of employment, SSM Physical Therapy. It was a wonderful experience. A very positive atmosphere. Everyone there was very helpful when we had questions or needed guidance. They had water and snacks available for us, very clean restrooms were available. They make it clear that they truly appreciate their volunteers.
I am a first grade teacher and a very high poverty school district. Many of our students don’t come with supplies they need. Kidsmart provides school supplies, books and many other things that my students are in need of. Without them, I would be buying more items out of my pocket. They are incredible resourceful teachers in the St. Louis area.
I've volunteered at KidSmart for the past three years. The organization is well-run and spends the vast majority of its donated funds on school supplies for low- and moderate-income students. I have learned that teachers have come to rely on Kidsmart so they don't have to purchase school supplies for their students out of their own pocket. Kidsmart also provides free classroom decorations to teachers to spruce up their rooms. Kidsmart fills a need in our education system and I am proud to help it achieve its mission.
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I volunteer at Kidsmart several times each month - working in the warehouse, participating in teacher school supply pickup drives, and occasionally joining the staff to deliver supplies to individual schools. Kidsmart is serving a vital need in the STL area by providing school supplies to teachers who have many students that cannot afford to buy supplies. The staff and leadership at Kidsmart are wonderful people who care deeply about their mission, and genuinely appreciate their volunteers. The organization is very efficient, which ensures a very high percentage of monetary donations go directly to getting supplies to the kids. When I retired, I did a lot of research to find 2-3 non-profits where I could spend my time and feel like I am making a difference. I chose Kidsmart as one of those organizations and I'm very glad I did.
I have been working with KidSmart for a few months now— joining the team a few days a week—and each day I get to experience something different! What I love about KidSmart is the passion for helping the children/schools in need. I’m in awe of how staff, volunteers, donors, and other support people never back down from challenge and put 100% into everything they do. If you are looking to support a nonprofit, choose KidSmart!
KidSmart has impacted so many students lives and outlook on school. I have seen first hand the way student's faces light up when they are given even just a simple pack of pencils. KidSmart is providing the necessary materials for a student to be fully prepared in the classroom, and be on the same level as their peers. Not only does it help them do their work, but it helps their confidence! KidSmart is an amazing organization that I believe everyone should know about!
It was amazing! I have never done this before. It was seamless and we got great supplies for our classrooms. Thank you so much for offering this opportunity!
KidSmart has been an incredible support for my classroom, especially for my diverse group of students. The culturally significant books they provide have expanded my students' horizons, allowing my English Language Learners to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. The notebooks have been invaluable, helping my special education students stay organized with separate reading and writing notebooks, reducing confusion.
Additionally, the disinfectant wipes have made a huge difference, especially with my younger students learning how to use supplies while staying germ-free. I’m especially grateful for the extra backpacks, which will be so helpful later in the year when many students lose theirs due to home changes or moves. And, of course, pencils and crayons are always in high demand!
KidSmart’s impact goes beyond supplies—it helps foster a positive, productive learning environment for all of my students. I am so thankful for their support!
KidSmart is an incredible organization making a real difference in the St. Louis community! By providing free essential tools for learning to kids in need, they’re giving students the resources and confidence to succeed in school. Their commitment to ensuring every child has access to supplies is truly inspiring, and the impact they’ve had on local families is immeasurable. KidSmart is helping build a brighter future for St. Louis, one backpack at a time!
KidSmart offers reliable school materials that are useful to all students of many ages. The donations are plentiful and resources are abundant. I've seen kids year, after year, after year benefit from this organization. Also, I have volunteered to give back to this organization and the many communities that they've served. They never disappoint!
Kidsmart goes ABOVE AND BEYOND for making sure StL schools have what they need to service ALL students. I wouldn't have a classroom if it wasn't for Kidsmart. I work in a Title 1 school district with 100% free/reduced lunch. Our parents can't afford food, much less donating extra classroom supplies. KidSmart even visits our campuses and donates gift boxes to teachers upon request to make sure that everyone is serviced- even if our teachers are too busy working two jobs to volunteer with Kidsmart to repay them for their kindness. I've been to two Kidsmart volunteer opportunities, and they are so organized, and there is such a dedication to ensuring equitable learning resources! They make sure old but sturdy items see the chance for new life. My kids love the bags of books we get from Kidsmart. 1000/10, you can't go wrong with this nonprofit.
This is one of the best nonprofits out there. They really help teachers add to their classroom supplies. It's unbelievably sad that teachers have to pay to buy supplies for their classrooms, no other profession does this, but thanks to Kidsmart, I don't have to spend as much as I used to!
I have been associated with KidSmart since it’s beginning. I was a volunteer teacher/shopper as well as the school liaison! Upon retiring, I worked at KidSmart through AmeriCorps Vista! I continue to volunteer whenever I can because I still believe in Jennifer’s Vision and Mission ! Every child should have the necessary tools they need to be successful in school!!
As a teacher I am always looking for ways to better equip my classroom without breaking the bank. This year I reached out to KidsMart and asked how I might qualify for there resources since I am just outside of their area. They were very kind and helpful. I volunteered for a supply drive and was rewarded two-fold. Not only did I get to meet and hang out with other great educators I got to participate in their back to school event and qualify for a shopping trip. This gave me the opportunity to outfit my classroom with all of the necessary supplies to start the year. Because most of my students are under-privileged I did not have to tap into my own funds this year to start off on the right foot. This organization is fantastic and I wish there were more like it.
Like most teachers, I am creative with my resources and can think of dozens of ways to use things that other people might just discard. Kidsmart is made for teachers like this! Not only do I receive basic supplies (pencils, notebooks, art supplies), but also things that I can get creative with. For instance, last time I got a bag of brand new fuzzy blankets that had been mis-printed at a factory. Guess what: blanket forts for our movie day in October! I browsed through their donated books and found good two copies of a book from a classroom set I have that needed replacing. My students use chromebooks during the day but many of them have difficulty using the touch-pad navigator. A couple of extra computer mice solve that problem. Grab bags of Halloween decorations that didn't sell last year at a craft store turn into bulletin board decor and ways to make my room, on a slim budget, feel a little bit more like those pinterest-worthy classrooms. My students are in middle school, and I am a special education teacher working at a low income school. Kidsmart is a treasure for a teacher like me.
A very fun organization to get involved with. They work so hard to provide the essentials that kids need to be successful in school. Great volunteer opportunities for an individual or a team of people. Keep it up KidSmart!
Kidsmart provides our school the necessities to help our students learn. Kidsmart has supplied me with thousands of dollars worth of materials that help my students in their classroom. Just with the necessities they would not otherwise been able to secure on their own. Paper, pencils, notebooks, backpacks, glue, erasers, colored pencils and markers, pencil sharpeners , in addition to books and dictionaries that I have been able to give not only to the students who come to my class but to teachers and students throughout my building. All this is in addition to what I use in my classroom, give to other teachers, and place on the school walls to help make an attractive and exciting environment. To add icing on the cake, the staff at Kidsmart does not receive enough praise for all of the work they do for all of us. They are without a doubt the kindest and most compasionate individuals who work hard all year round to make our lives and our students lives better!
KidSmart has helped me so much this year! As a teacher, I am so grateful for the supplies and the resources provided to my students on a monthly basis. I also enjoy the time spent with other educators, volunteering to help each other.
Kidsmart provides school supplies to children and resources of all kinds to their teachers. Teachers are able to visit the warehouse to pick up needed supplies so they aren't having to always dip into their own pockets to provide the necessary tools for learning. I have helped during these teacher pick-up sessions; the teachers are thrilled to get what they need for their classrooms. It is a joy to serve them.
I would not be able to do my teaching job as well with out the support of kidsmart. The supplies I get there are much needed!!
KidSmart is a LIFESAVER! I use KidSmart continuously throughout the year to supply basic needs for my classroom. I spend so much of my own personal money on my classroom and it helps to NOT have to buy so many of the basics that students are lacking. Students love using the supplies and appreciate all of the new materials that I have attained through KidSmart: backpacks, books, paper, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, colored pencils, markers, and even fun gadgets for rewards and prizes. I never miss a shopping trip to KidSmart!
The donors and supporters of KidSmart make this Organization the best!
All the donations, volunteers, and quality items given to teachers are even better. I am so thankful as a teacher to have KidSmart and its supporters.
I have no idea what I would do without Kidsmart! So many times students in my school can not afford just basic school supplies like pencils and notebook. Kids feel defeated when they don't have what they need to learn. Thanks to Kidsmart, I have a supply of items that I can give any student at any time. The relief and huge smile on their face says it all! Kidsmart...keep it up! You are making a difference in the future of our children!
I love Kid Smart! My classroom has benefited from this organization this year. I teach in a low income community where most of the kids can’t afford school supplies, even the basics. Being able to give them notebooks, folders, and pencils is extremely helpful! I am also able to offer them incentives for behavior and grades because of your generosity. Thanks for everything you do for our children!