Susan Ungerer, founder and president of Kids R First, counts off crayons to package for individual schools.

Kids R First, formed by retired teachers who spent much of their own money buying supplies for students when they were in the classroom, have raised nearly $100,000 to help supply students in need. They said prices have gone up by 25 percent this year, in part because many school supplies such as crayons and plastic rulers are petroleum based.

Helen Cole helps volunteers sort through boxes for packaging supplies for 85 schools in the Dulles corridor. The effort was spearheaded by nonprofit group Kids R First.