Warehouse Stationery launches nationwide appeal on World Teachers’ Day as child material hardship reaches a 10-year high. Teachers see more than what happens at the front of the classroom. They see the child borrowing a pencil, sitting out because they don’t have the right supplies or quietly noticing they have less than those around them.
And often, they’re the first to step in. Finding spare stationery, creating opportunities and sometimes dipping into their own pockets so every child has the same chance to take part. Most of us can remember a teacher who did that for us. Someone who noticed our potential, built our confidence or simply made sure we didn’t feel left behind.
Launching on World Teachers’ Day (Oct 5 th), Warehouse Stationery and The Salvation Army are inviting New Zealanders to ‘Thank a Teacher’ who made a difference in their life and help give that same chance to another Kiwi child.
The nation’s latest material hardship figures (year ended 2025) from Stats NZ show 14.3% of children – around 169,300, or one in seven – are going without multiple everyday essentials, leaving little room for the additional items children need to participate fully at school.
The Thank a Teacher appeal encourages New Zealanders to create a free personalised card for a teacher who made a difference in their life, through the Warehouse Stationery website. For each card created, Warehouse Stationery will donate $2 to The Salvation Army, up to $50,000, to help provide school essentials to Kiwi children experiencing hardship.
Anyone who wants to do more can add a donation at Warehouse Stationery stores nationwide, helping the fund grow further.
Fronted by primary school teacher, TikTok creator and Traitors NZ contestant, Samantha Richards says she has seen first-hand what having the right school supplies can mean to a child but also how quickly they notice when they are the one without.
“As teachers, we get to see kids discover what they’re capable of. Sometimes all it takes is someone noticing what they’re good at, giving them confidence or being in their corner when they need it.
“But every child needs the basics to have that chance. You want them walking into class thinking about what they’re going to learn or who they’re going to play with at lunch – not what they don’t have. And if there’s a teacher who believed in you, made you feel like you belonged or just made school a better place to be, they’re probably worth thanking.”
The Salvation Army Community Ministries Territorial Secretary, Christina Tyson, says rising material hardship is forcing more families to make difficult choices about everyday necessities. “When household budgets are stretched, school costs can become another source of pressure. Having the same basics as their classmates can make a real difference to a child’s confidence and ability to learn, helping them focus on simply being a kid.”
Funds raised will be distributed through The Salvation Army’s 70 Community Ministries centres, reaching hundreds of families in need from Kaitaia to Invercargill with support towards stationery, technology and other school essentials. Warehouse Stationery’s Education Specialist Amy Croxford says the appeal connects the teachers who help shape young lives with the tools children need to thrive at school.
“We’ve been part of Kiwi classrooms for a long time and regularly hear stories of teachers going above and beyond to support their students, often in ways that go unseen. Thank a Teacher is about recognising the people who help shape young lives every day, while turning that gratitude into practical support for children who need it most.”
The appeal runs nationwide from 5 October until 1 November 2026. Create a card at warehousestationery.co.nz or visit one of the 67 Warehouse Stationery stores nationwide.
HOW TO TAKE PART: Got a teacher in mind? Saying thanks takes a minute, and every card helps tamariki in need.
• WHAT: Create a free personalised thank-you card for a teacher who made a difference in your life
• WHEN: 5 October, World Teachers’ Day, to 1 November 2026
• WHERE: Online at warehousestationery.co.nz or at card-making stations in all 67 Warehouse
Stationery stores nationwide
• HOW IT HELPS: For each card created, Warehouse Stationery will donate $2 to The Salvation Army,
up to $50,000
• WANT TO DO MORE? Add your own donation when shopping at any Warehouse Stationery store
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