Teachers are often the first to notice when a child doesn’t have what they need, and the first to do something about it, finding spare stationery or covering the cost themselves so nobody misses out.
Right now, one in seven Kiwi children (around 169,300 tamariki) are going without everyday essentials. It’s a ten-year high for child material hardship in New Zealand, making it tough for families to afford basic school supplies.
To help bridge the gap, Warehouse Stationery and The Salvation Army are launching the Thank a Teacher appeal. It turns that gratitude into something bigger by recognising the teachers who shaped us or our kids while giving another Kiwi kid the same chance. Best part: saying thanks costs nothing and takes about a minute.
Here is how it works and how you can get involved:
- Create a Free Card: From 5 October (World Teachers’ Day) to 1 November 2026, send a free personalised thank-you card to a teacher who’s made a positive difference.
- Where to Do It: Make your card online at warehousestationery.co.nz or at card-making stations across all 67 Warehouse Stationery stores nationwide.
- Choose from a range of templates and personalise your card with cute icons and a thoughtful note. Cards can be emailed directly, or printed out to proudly hand over in person.
- How It Helps: For every card created, Warehouse Stationery donates $2 to The Salvation Army, up to $50,000.
- The Impact: Donations go directly toward providing stationery, technology, and school essentials to tamariki through 70 Salvation Army Community Ministries centres nationwide.
- Want to Do More? You can also add a direct donation at any Warehouse Stationery store counter.
Primary school teacher, TikTok creator, and Traitors NZ contestant Samantha Richards is fronting the campaign, knowing firsthand how much it means when a child has the supplies they need. “You want them walking into class thinking about what they’re going to learn,” she says, “not what they don’t have.”
It takes just a minute to write a message to a teacher who made a difference for you or your child, but that simple thank-you helps another Kiwi kid walk into school with the basics they need.
