Who We Are
Hi! My name is Addy McKenney and I am an 8th grader at St. Johns School. Throughout my life, I have been blessed with an abundance of school supplies. Whether it's for math, English, or art, I don't have to worry about finding the material needed. I am more aware now that not all children are granted with the same supplies that I was. I created the organization Chance to Learn as a way to give underprivileged children the supplies that they are going to need throughout the year. I plan to do this by hosting drives every so often as a way for families to put their extra school supplies to use. Every year your kids come home with an extra notebook or two. Why not put them to good use instead of throwing them away? We will collect anything from pencils to binders to clothes and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any further question or concerns.
How To Help
Supply Drives
School supplies are crucial for a good learning environment and without them, kids can suffer from bullying or confidence issues, which lowers their self-esteem and can cause other mental and physical issues.Â
Studies have proven to us that kids who have a sufficient number of school supplies have better grades, a better attitude in the classroom, better behavior, and better relationships with their peers.
You can help the children of Houston by collecting any old or new school supplies that you have in your home and bringing them to any of our open drives.
Clothing Drives
Approximately 15 million kids in the United States live in severe poverty.Â
Some of these children have to worry about where their next meal will come from; they shouldn't have to worry about whether they will have the a clean shirt or a pair of shoes to wear to school
Gather all of the clothes in your household that no longer fit or no longer bring you joy. When giving away clothes that can still be used instead of throwing them away, you are making a child's day
Contacting Others
Help us improve the lives of children all around Houston and spread the word about our organization! Schools have found that when their students are blessed with school supplies there is less vandalism, less unexcused absences, and their students feel better about school in their community.
Tell your friends and family to help support us and the kids of Houston. Contact us for more ways to help A Chance To Learn.
Example of A Family
In a family of three from New Jersey, a single mom works 8 hour shifts on most days in the funeral home below their apartment. When August rolls around, she is forced to change her shifts from 8 to 13 hours a day in order to make enough to pay for her two kids school supplies.
Her son, a ninth grader, will be starting at a new school and will be forced to follow the strict dress code which will need him to purchase all new clothes including a blazer, a gym uniform, multiple pairs of pants and shirts. This new wardrobe will cost the mom a total of $250.
When all the shopping for the first day is done, Paola, the mom, will have spent $700, so far.
The Huntington Backpack Index took a poll and determined that the average cost of school supplies for middle schools is $1,277 and for high school the average is 1,668. With one kid in middle school and one in high school, Paola spent approximately $2,965 for her kids school supplies. We can help lessen this burden on families like Paola's by donating what we have and helping those in need.
Contact A Chance To Learn
Get in touch with A Chance To Learn to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.