Every parent wants their child to do well in school, but kids need support if they’re going to succeed. They should start the school year with a full set of classroom supplies. They should have good food every day to keep them focused, alert, and healthy. As a parent, though, you know that backpacks, notebooks, and balanced meals aren’t cheap.

Luckily, there are resources out there to help. Washington State has school-based lunch and breakfast programs for low income families. You can read more about it here. Call your child’s school to sign up. There is also a program to help the whole family get healthy meals, called SNAP. Click here to read more about SNAP and sign up.

Washington has lots of local groups that help parents fill their kids’ backpacks. Click here to find one near you. They can help you with pens, pencils, notebooks, and more.