ABC13 supply drive seeks help easing teachers’ out-of-pocket costs

ABC13’s fourth annual school supply drive will return July 31 with a push to cover classroom basics many Houston-area teachers still buy themselves. The station says last year’s effort brought in more than $46,000 in cash and supplies, and this year’s donations will again stay local.

The need is measurable. ABC13 cited an AdoptAClassroom survey showing Texas teachers spent an average of $935 out of pocket on school supplies during the 2024-2025 school year. AdoptAClassroom’s national survey put the average at $895 and said out-of-pocket spending has climbed 49% since 2015. DonorsChoose said teachers using its platform spent an average of $655 of their own money this school year, but would spend more than $1,400 without community support.

The strain shows up in more than just receipts. DonorsChoose said 49% of surveyed teachers work at least one alternate job to supplement their income, a backdrop that helps explain why supply drives keep drawing support from parents and businesses across Harris County. ABC13 says donors can text ABC13Teachers to 71777 or contribute online.

Money and supplies collected through the drive will go to the Houston Food Bank’s School Programs. The food bank’s Teachers Aid program provides school supplies for teachers in low-income schools and is open to educators at schools participating in Backpack Buddy or School Market, where at least 70% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

The drive also puts hard-to-afford basics front and center. The Houston Food Bank’s list of most-needed items includes crayons, highlighters, markers, pencils, folders, pens, composition books, spiral notebooks, Post-it notes, filler paper, pencil cases, Lysol wipes, scissors, glue bottles, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, paper towels and antibacterial wipes. ABC13 and its partners have also pointed donors to drop-off sites including the Houston Food Bank and the Ismaili Center in Montrose, along with locations in Sugar Land, Richmond and Galveston.

The school supply drive has grown into a regional collection effort with a clear deadline and a direct local payoff. Last year’s more than $46,000 total followed a 2024 drive that brought in $27,735.68 in cash and supply donations, showing the campaign’s reach has expanded as classroom costs keep climbing.