During the 2012-2013 school year, teachers spent an estimated $1.6 billion on classroom supplies, a national average of about $485 per teacher, according to a recent report produced by the school supply industry trade group National School Supply and Equipment Association. Many teachers will go into their own pockets again this summer to ensure all their students have the resources they need when they start school in August.
You can help.
Guilford Education Alliance is kicking off its annual school supply donation drive to stock the shelves at the Teacher Supply Warehouse. The warehouse provides donated new school supplies and gently used office supplies to Guilford County Schools’ teachers free of charge.
During the last school year there were nearly 1,200 teacher visits to the Teacher Supply Warehouse which works out to each teacher taking about $250 worth of supplies back to their classrooms.
“You can spend a few hundred dollars in the first couple of weeks of school alone,” said Ann Allison, an ESL teacher at Page High School. “Most old-timers like me spend less because we've learned to stow things away over the years but even I still need things from time to time and when you're new on the job you can spend a fortune. That's why the Teacher Supply Warehouse is one of the first things I tell rookie teachers about. It really is an amazing resource for us.”
Allison, who has taught for nearly 15 years, added that there is a misconception that only students living in poverty need supplies. She noted that any student can lose their pencil or run out of paper, so there's always a need.
The Teacher Supply Warehouse is made possible through donations from local businesses, community groups and individuals. Some businesses even create entire events around their donation drives.
The Teacher Supply Warehouse is also keeping material out of our landfills. Businesses often find themselves with a surplus of office supplies, sending an average of 5,055 tons of garbage to the dump each month. Guilford Education Alliance recognized the opportunity and today, with its community partnerships, those gently used supplies are filling a need instead of a landfill.
The Teacher Supply Warehouse is located at 2601 Greengate Drive in Greensboro and is open for donations during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
Teachers can shop the donations Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. during the traditional school year. Teachers must sign up to shop through the Guilford County Schools website. Guilford Education Alliance encourages individuals, local businesses and other organizations like churches and civic groups to donate or even start their own donation drives.
Businesses and individuals can donate outdated letterhead, items left over from a trade show, notebooks, binders, pencils and pens, copy paper and other classroom appropriate items to the Teacher Supply Warehouse. New items are accepted as well and of course cash donations are welcomed.
It’s easy to make donations to the Warehouse. Walmart and many other local businesses will have donation boxes for the Tools for School campaign, sponsored by WFMY. Throw a few things in those boxes or take some supplies directly to the Warehouse. Donations can be accepted during regular business hours and someone will be happy to help you get them out of your car.
For a complete list of supplies needed, visit the Teacher Supply Warehouse Website: http://www.
