Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about shopping, school support, supply lists, partner schools, and how HOS works.
Helpful for
Parents, Teachers & Schools
Topics covered
Shopping, Earnings, Lists & Partnerships
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Shopping
Answers about finding schools, locating supply lists, and placing orders.
School Support
Learn how participating schools can benefit from qualifying purchases.
Partner Schools
Information for schools interested in joining HOS.
General Questions
About HOS
A quick overview of what HOS is and how it helps families and schools.
What is HOS?
HOS, or Help Our School, is a school supply shopping platform that helps families find the right supply lists and order online in one place. For participating schools, qualifying purchases can also help generate support for the school community.
How does HOS work?
Families search for their school, locate the correct supply list, and shop the items students need online. When a school participates in the HOS program, qualifying purchases may help generate earnings for that school.
Who can use HOS?
HOS is designed for parents, guardians, teachers, school staff, and schools that want a cleaner, more organized way to manage school supply shopping and school support.
Why use HOS instead of shopping at multiple stores?
HOS is designed to make the process easier. Instead of searching multiple places for school supply lists and individual items, families can find their school, review the right list, and shop in one more streamlined experience.
Shopping Questions
Finding your school and shopping your list
These answers help families locate the right school and the right supplies.
How do I find my school?
You can search by school name, city, or district using the HOS school search. Once you find your school, you can view available supply lists and shop from there.
What if I cannot find my school?
If your school is not listed yet, please contact us. We may still be adding schools, or your school may not be participating yet. We are always interested in helping more schools join.
Can I shop by grade level?
Yes, when a school provides grade-based lists, families can shop by grade level. This helps make it easier to find the right supplies for a student’s class needs.
Can I shop by teacher or classroom list?
Yes, if teacher-specific or classroom-specific supply lists are available, they can be shown on the school page so families can choose the most accurate list for their student.
What if there are both grade-level and teacher-specific lists?
Some schools may provide general grade-level lists, while others may also include teacher-specific or classroom-specific lists. Families should select the list that best matches their student’s assignment or teacher instructions.
Do I have to buy every item on the list?
Not necessarily. Families can review the items on the list and shop based on their needs. Some lists may include required items, optional items, or quantities that can be adjusted as appropriate.
Can I order for more than one child?
Yes. Families can shop multiple lists as needed, whether that means multiple students, multiple grade levels, or different classroom requirements.
School Earnings
How participating schools earn support
These questions explain the fundraising side of HOS in a clear and parent-friendly way.
How does my school earn money through HOS?
When families shop through a participating school’s HOS page, qualifying purchases may help generate earnings for that school. This gives schools a practical way to benefit from purchases families are already making for the school year.
How much does a participating school earn?
Participating schools earn a percentage of qualifying purchases from qualifying purchases made through their HOS program. The exact commission structure may depend on the program terms in place at the time.
Do all products count toward school earnings?
Earnings generally apply to qualifying purchases. Some products, categories, fees, taxes, or special cases may be excluded depending on program rules.
How are earnings tracked?
Earnings are tracked based on qualifying purchases associated with participating school pages or other approved HOS fundraising methods. HOS keeps records to help determine what support is due to each school.
How is commission paid out to schools?
Commission is typically calculated from qualifying purchases and then disbursed to participating schools on a regular payout schedule established by HOS. Payout methods and timing may depend on the school’s participation setup and HOS program terms.
When do schools receive their earnings?
Schools receive earnings according to the payout schedule established for the HOS program. Timing may vary depending on order completion, returns, adjustments, and payment processing requirements.
Can families see that their purchase helps support the school?
Yes. HOS is designed to make it clear that qualifying purchases through participating school pages can help support the school, so families understand the added value of ordering through the program.
Partner Schools
Becoming a participating school
Information for schools interested in joining the HOS program.
How can a school become a partner school?
Schools that want to participate can contact HOS to learn more about the setup process. We can help review how the program works, what information is needed, and how a school page can be created.
What does a school need to provide to get started?
In most cases, a school will need to provide school details, supply list information, and any participation details needed for the HOS program. Additional setup steps may apply depending on the school’s needs.
Can schools provide grade-level and teacher-specific lists?
Yes. HOS can support general grade-level supply lists as well as teacher-specific or classroom-specific lists when those are available.
Is there a cost for a school to participate?
Please contact HOS for current participation details. Program structure may vary, and we’re happy to discuss what participation looks like for your school.
Can private schools, charter schools, or districts participate?
HOS may be able to work with a variety of school types depending on program fit and setup needs. Contact us if you would like to discuss your school or organization.
Orders & Support
Additional common questions
A few more answers families often need before or after ordering.
Can I change or cancel my order after placing it?
If you need help with an order, please contact us as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee changes or cancellations once processing has begun, but we will do our best to help when possible.
Where can I find shipping and return information?
Shipping and return details are available on our Shipping & Returns page. If you still need help, please contact us directly.
Who should I contact if I have a question?
If you need help with shopping, school participation, or an existing order, please contact HOS support and we’ll be happy to assist.
Still Need Help?
We’re here to help families and schools
If you did not find your answer here, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.