School Supplies

Every year in July, the stores roll out notebooks, backpacks, markers, and all of the other things a young mind needs to learn. Most of us remember how exciting it was to start out a new school year with fresh boxes of crayons and a new lunchbox with the latest Hollywood star. The best thing about this suggestion is that it only takes a backpack filled with under twenty dollars worth of school supplies to get a young person excited about learning.

A quick internet search provided a lot of options.  You can choose whether you want your donation to benefit an individual student or if you want to donate to an entire classroom.  You can also donate your used supplies when you buy new ones.  Many stores even have bins set out to collect supplies.  In Hutchinson, the mall is collecting supplies.  They are collecting supplies for the Salvation Army.

Today the average teacher spends over $350 out of their own pocket on supplies for their classroom.  We all know that teachers can't afford to do this but they see the benefits everyday in their classroom.  The teachers who teach in the lowest socio-economic schools have the lowest classroom budgets and few options for acquiring supplies.  They desperately need help to do their jobs.  If you know a teacher, offer to help.  If you don't know any teachers, there are websites that can connect you to those in need.  One website,  Donors Choose, allows you to peruse the wishlists in teachers of all subjects from across the United States.  Teachers post details about their lessons and include a request for the materials that are required.  Donors Choose collects donations in any amount and keeps track of how much has been collected.  When a teacher hits their goal amount, the supplies are delivered to the classroom.  You choose the amount, it can be as little as $1 if you want to spread your dollars out.  And you choose the recipient.  Those who donate more than fifty dollars receive thank you notes.

I gave because I have a friend who is teaching art at a Navajo Reservation.  When she arrived for her first day, she found out that the art room had no supplies and there was no budget to purchase any.  Imagine an art class where the students only have pencils and paper.  How can you teach about color or texture or any of the other concepts in art?  My friend is one of the most creative teachers I know but even a great teacher is stymied when there are no supplies.  The supplies I sent were not much, but they can offer some variety and give young elementary students the lessons they deserve.

http://www.donorschoose.org/