TEP offers several programs that allow community groups, organizations, schools, and corporate offices to make a real difference in the classrooms of underserved schools. These options can be tailored to accommodate different group sizes and levels of involvement, so there is a path for nearly any team. In fact, we put together a detailed guide to help you and your group find the engagement path that best fits.
Adopt-A-School and Pack It Forward are two of our most popular ways for groups to get involved. On the surface, both get supply kits into students’ hands, giving them classroom essentials that help break down barriers to learning. Both also give sponsors and their teams the chance to build the kits themselves, turning the experience into a hands-on activity rather than just a donation.
So how are they different, and how do you know which one is right for your team?
Size and cost
The biggest difference between the two comes down to scale and cost. Pack It Forward operates classroom by classroom, at $250 per classroom for a kit of 24 supplies. Adopt-A-School operates at the school level, at $30 per student, or $25.50 per student with a three-year commitment. Because Adopt-A-School’s cost depends on the size of the school, total sponsorships can range anywhere from $500 to $50,000. Adopt-A-School delivers a bigger overall impact, while Pack It Forward offers a more budget-friendly entry point for smaller groups.
Level of involvement
Both give sponsors a meaningful, positive impact, but the two look very different up close. Pack It Forward is more behind the scenes. There is no direct contact with the schools receiving the kits, no ongoing relationship with a specific school, and less visibility or recognition for your team’s contribution. Adopt-A-School, on the other hand, gives sponsors the chance to meet the students they serve. Through a hands-on, in-school distribution, sponsors build connections in classrooms, see their impact firsthand, and develop a longer-term relationship with the school they support.
Tailorability
Right now, Pack It Forward supplies students in pre-k through 5th grade, while Adopt-A-School offers more flexibility, with tailored supply kits that can reach every grade level. Adopt-A-School kits are also more robust, with 15 to 18 items compared to Pack It Forward’s 7, giving schools more say over exactly what their kits include and more autonomy over the overall experience.
Choosing the recipients
With Adopt-A-School, sponsors choose which schools they want to support. With Pack It Forward, the kits your team builds are entered into a lottery, and teachers can enter for a chance to have their classroom selected to receive them.
Making the right choice
So which program suits your team best? If Adopt-A-School sounds like the right fit, follow the link here to begin your journey. More interested in Pack It Forward? Click here to find out how to sign up today!
