How to get free technology, supplies and food for back to school in 2026

Back-to-school season is an exciting new start, but with school supplies, purchasing technology for students, and budgeting for meals at home, the costs add up quickly. Luckily, the best brands, educational platforms, and community organizations offer amazing free resources, trial subscriptions, free food offers, and supply kits to help ease the financial burden.

Wait a minute, please pass: We are hosting a back-to-school event from August 2nd to 6th. Get up to 60% off the trends, tech and gear you actually want here.

Check out the best freebies at a glance

• Best overall for educators and students: Canva for Education (free premium design tool)
• Best tech and software freebies: Microsoft 365 Training
• Best free school supplies for families: United Way 211 and local “Stuff the Bus” drives.
• Best food benefits for everyone: Fast Food Teacher and Student Appreciation Benefits (Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, IHOP)
• Best Home and Classroom Printables: Lakeside Learning Free Resources

Best back-to-school freebie comparison chart

How teachers, students and parents can maximize savings

Navigating back-to-school promotions requires a bit of strategy to make sure you don’t miss out on hidden offers.

• schoolmaster: Always register using your official district credentials or ID.me to instantly unlock educator upgrades across technology, crafts and retail platforms.
• students: Official address issued by the school (.edu Alternatively, you can sign up for a multi-month free trial and free cloud software subscription via your district email).
• parents: By combining local community supply campaigns with tax-free shopping weekends (held in more than 15 states each July/August), we’ll process any remaining physical supply lists for free.

The Best Back to School Freebies and Resources

1. Canva for Education

Canva offers K-12 teachers and students free access to Canva Pro features if their school is registered. Teachers can create visual lesson plans and classroom decorations, while students can create effective group presentations, infographics, and project posters. Alternatively, anyone can use Canva’s free plan, which includes only basic features.

• Included: Unlimited premium templates, stock photos, graphics, and collaboration boards
• Target audience: K-12 Educators and Students
• Requirements: Verification via official school email address or staff credentials
• expense: $0 (annual value of $119.99)

2. Microsoft Office 365 Training

Students and educators at eligible institutions can access the entire Microsoft 365 suite completely free of charge. This is not just a web trial. Includes full cloud access to essential productivity tools you need for schoolwork, research papers, and group assignments.

• Included: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, and 1TB OneDrive cloud storage
• Target audience: K-12 and college students, teachers and faculty
• Requirements: A valid school-issued email address (.edu or district email)
• expense: $0 ($69.99+ annual value)

3. Community Supply Distribution (United Way and “Stuff the Bus”)

Throughout August, national nonprofits are partnering with major retailers to host prize giveaways throughout the community. Parents can choose a fully loaded backpack for their child without putting a huge strain on the family shopping budget.

• Included: New backpacks, folders, pencils, crayons, rulers and hygiene kits
• Target audience: K-12 students, parents, and low-income households
• Requirements: Proof of local event registration or school registration (depending on location)
• expense: $0

4. Back-to-school food benefits (Teacher and Student Appreciation Day)

During the first few weeks of school, major restaurant chains host Appreciation Days where teachers, staff, students, and parents can receive free drinks, breakfast, or BOGO (buy-one-get-one) meal deals. Keep an eye out for deals coming in the coming weeks.

• Included: Common offers include: free medium coffee (Dunkin’/RaceTrac), free donuts (Krispy Kreme), free pancakes (IHOP), or BOGO meal deals.
• Target audience: Teachers, staff, students, parents
• Requirements: Please present a valid school ID, teacher badge, or student report card at participating locations.
• expense: $0 – Discounted

5. National School Lunch and Breakfast Program (USDA)

Many families qualify for completely free or reduced-price nutritious meals, including breakfast and lunch, at school each day. Many states have expanded universal free lunch programs to cover all public school students regardless of household income.

• Included: Balanced daily school breakfast and lunch for students
• Target audience: Parents and K-12 Public/Charter School Students
• Requirements: A simple income verification form submitted to your child’s school district.
• expense: $0

6. Lakeside Learning Free Resources (Classroom and Home)

Lakeshore Learning offers a large, high-quality digital library of printable resources. Perfect for teachers designing classroom learning centers and parents creating organized homework hubs at home.

• Included: Printable calendars, desk plaques, reward charts, themed worksheets and craft templates.
• Target audience: From preschool to 6th grade teachers, parents, and homeschoolers.
• Requirements: None (instant direct download)
• expense: $0

7. Teachers pay teachers (collect TpT free resources)

Teachers Pay Teachers is known for its paid materials created by educators, but the platform also hosts tens of thousands of completely free printables. It’s the perfect place for teachers looking for an ice breaker for the first week and parents looking for practice sheets to take home.

• Included: First week activities, coloring pages, lesson plans, goal setting worksheets, and organizational labels.
• Target audience: Educators, parents, and students at all grade levels
• Requirements: Free TpT ​​account (filter results by price: “free”)
• expense: $0

8. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

Designed to combat “summer stress” before back to school, Barnes & Noble’s annual program rewards young readers with a free new book if they keep a short reading journal.

• Included: Choose one free actual book from B&N’s grade-specific reading list
• Target audience: 1st to 6th grade students and parents
• Requirements: Download and complete the B&N Reading Log (8 volumes in total) and return it to your nearest store.
• expense: $0

Other Tips

• Visit your local library: Public libraries are known to offer back-to-school benefits to their members, including live online tutoring, technology checkouts, homework centers, resource fairs, maker workshops, and summer reading programs with free gifts.
• Grant Program: Teachers can apply for grants by registering with Adopt-a-Classroom.
• Your local school district: To inquire about internal supply rooms or kit distribution programs, contact your school’s main administrative office or counselor.
• WIC Program: We provide nutritional and food support to pregnant women, infants, and children under 5 years of age. (Call 1-888-942-9675)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can college students get free software and food during the back-to-school season?

yes! valid college student .edu With your email address, you’ll get access to free developer tools (via the GitHub Student Developer Pack), free cloud storage, Microsoft 365, and multi-month free trials for lifestyle and delivery subscriptions like DoorDash Student, Prime Student, and Spotify/Hulu bundles.

How can I find free, real school supplies in my community?

Local non-profits, community centers, organizations such as the Salvation Army, United Way (call 211 in the US), and local “Stuff the Bus” drives distribute free backpacks and supply kits throughout August. Check your local community board or school district notice for distribution dates.

Is a teacher discount the same as freebies?

No, but there is a lot of overlap. Major retailers like Target, Staples, and Apple offer seasonal gift cards, 15-20% teacher discounts, or free store credit when purchasing supplies during back-to-school promotions.

The post How to Get Free Back to School Technology, Supplies and Food in 2026 first appeared on The Real Deal on RetailMeNot.