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By Marty Getz

Bulk School Supply Kits Power Fundraising Efforts and Save District Dollars

Every school year brings with a scramble for supplies: pencils, notebooks, rulers, markers, folders, and everything else a student might need to hit the ground running on their educational journey. For parents, this often means last-minute trips to one or more stores, hunting for deals and checking items off increasingly long supply lists. But what if there was a way to eliminate the stress, save money, and even raise funds for your school or district?

Bulk school supply kits from Raymond Geddes are a smart, streamlined solution for schools, districts, and PTOs looking to save big and support their students more effectively. These kits offer volume discounts, customizable options, and a unique opportunity for schools to turn essential supplies into a low-effort, high-impact fundraising program.

Let's explore the many advantages of buying school kits in bulk from Geddes, how schools and parent-teacher organizations can use them as a fundraising tool, and why this approach offers real value to districts, educators, and families alike.

Why Districts and PTOs Offer School Supply Kits

Traditionally, the back-to-school season puts the burden of school supply shopping on individual parents. While this might seem convenient in theory, the reality is often far from it:

  • Prices vary dramatically between stores.

  • Low inventory can force parents to drive all over town.

  • Inconsistencies in brands and quality can affect classroom performance.

  • Time and stress weigh heavily on families juggling work, school forms, and the new-year transition.

Districts and PTOs are now recognizing that they can take the hassle out of the equation entirely by ordering pre-packed school kits in bulk for their students. By doing so, they unlock significant savings, simplify logistics for families, and create a more equitable learning environment where all students are prepared from day one.

Geddes makes this process easy with kits like the Junior High School Kit, packed with name-brand essentials and available at tiered pricing that rewards bulk orders.

The savings add up fast. A district ordering 2000 kits could save $20,000 or more compared to retail pricing. Plus, since kits come ready to distribute, there’s no need for assembly lines or sorting tables in the gym. It’s plug-and-play, saving time and effort across the board.

What’s Inside?

Geddes school kits aren’t just about price. They’re about quality and practicality. Each kit is carefully curated to include the supplies students actually need, with thoughtful attention to durability and usability. Depending on the grade level, kits may include:

  • Notebooks and folders

  • Pencils, pens, and erasers

  • Highlighters, crayons, and markers

  • Scissors, glue sticks, and rulers

  • Pencil cases or pouches

Rather than cobbling together these supplies one by one from discount stores or relying on parents to interpret vague supply lists, districts can provide a consistent, uniform set of materials that ensures every student starts the year with the tools they need to succeed.

Fundraising Made Easy: Turn Kits into Dollars

Here’s where things get even more interesting: buying kits in bulk doesn’t just save your district money. It can also become a reliable and low-lift fundraising stream.

The Concept

Let’s say your PTO purchases 1500 kits from Geddes at a 40% discount. If they sell them to parents for less than most parents would spend if they bought everything themselves at retail, the parents save $5 per kit and the PTO earns $10 profit per kit.

Do the math:

  • 1500 kits x $10 = $15,000 in funds raised

Multiply that across an entire district or expand sales through sports programs, arts clubs, or school-wide events, and you’ve got a scalable fundraising engine that delivers value to families and cash to school programs.

Why It Works

  • Parents save time and stress
    They get a complete, quality-checked supply kit with no hunting or guessing.

  • Schools raise money
    A small, reasonable markup turns savings into dollars for field trips, sports, arts, and tech.

  • Every student benefits
    Uniform kits level the playing field—no more embarrassment over missing or inadequate supplies.

  • It’s repeatable and predictable
    Unlike candy sales or car washes, this is tied to an annual event, back-to-school season, meaning consistent fundraising opportunities year after year.

Fundraising Ideas Built Around School Kits

Looking to go even further with your kit-based fundraiser? Here are a few creative ways to build school spirit while boosting your bottom line:

Supply Pick-Up Party

Host a "Back-to-School Bash" where parents come to pick up their pre-purchased kits. Add food trucks, music, raffles, and games. It becomes a social event and a celebration, and you can sell additional spirit wear, supplies, or raffle tickets at the same time.

Online Pre-Order Store

Set up a simple online store using platforms like Shopify, Square, or even Google Forms. Promote it via email, text blasts, and social media so families can order their kits with one click. You collect the funds and Geddes delivers the kits right to your school.

Sponsor-a-Student Program

Offer families the option to purchase an extra kit to donate to a student in need. It’s a feel-good way to ensure no one starts the year empty-handed—and can be a great PR story for your school.

Bundled Donation Drives

Combine kit sales with other school needs, like collecting optional donations for classroom tech or extracurriculars. For example: “Buy a school kit and add an optional $5 donation to support new library books!”

Benefits Beyond the Bottom Line

The financial perks of bulk kits and fundraising are clear, but the benefits go deeper than just dollars:

Equity

Every student receives the same supplies, fostering a sense of inclusion and preparedness. This removes the stigma from kids who might otherwise come to school with less than their peers.

Consistency for Teachers

When all students have the same materials, classroom management becomes simpler. Teachers spend less time troubleshooting missing supplies and more time teaching.

Time Savings for Parents

Families juggling work and other commitments love the simplicity. One click and their child’s supplies are handled—no extra shopping trips or confusion about list items.

Community Engagement

Fundraising through kits encourages greater collaboration between schools, PTOs, and families. It transforms a routine back-to-school task into a collective effort that benefits everyone.

Why Geddes?

Geddes has been serving schools for over 90 years, so they know a thing or two about what students need and what districts value. Their school kits offer:

  • Volume-based discounts for real savings

  • Bulk packaging that’s easy to store and distribute

  • Age-appropriate kits from elementary to junior high

  • Durable, name-brand supplies

  • Support for custom kits and branded options

With dedicated customer service and flexible shipping options, Geddes makes it easy to roll out a district-wide supply solution or pilot a smaller PTO fundraiser.

Ready to Get Started?

Here’s a quick action plan to turn your school kits into a savings and fundraising win:

  1. Estimate your audience: How many students? Which grades?

  2. Choose your kit(s): Select from Geddes’ pre-built options or customize your own.

  3. Set your fundraising price point: Calculate a fair markup that still beats retail.

  4. Promote it: Use email, social media, flyers, and events to get the word out.

  5. Track orders: Collect funds in advance and place your bulk order with confidence.

  6. Distribute with style: Make pick-up day part of the celebration!

More Than Just Supplies

At the end of the day, school kits from Raymond Geddes are more than a box of pencils and paper. They’re a tool for equity, a shortcut to sanity for busy families, and a clever fundraising vehicle for schools trying to do more with less. With bulk pricing that delivers meaningful savings and a seamless way to turn essentials into opportunities, school kits are the smart solution for modern education.

Whether you’re a PTO leader, a district administrator, or just a parent who wants to make back-to-school season a little less stressful and a lot more impactful, it’s time to rethink school supplies, not just as a cost, but as an investment in your students, your community, and your future.