Did you know that many teachers fund classroom supplies out-of-pocket? According to Time magazine’s article “Here’s How Much Your Kid’s Teacher Is Shelling Out for School Supplies,” (August 3, 2016), “The Education Market Association says that virtually all teachers wind up paying out of pocket for supplies, and it’s not chump change, either. On average, most spent nearly $500 last year, and one in 10 spent $1,000 or more. All told, a total of $1.6 billion in school supply costs is shifted from parents — or, increasingly, from cash-strapped districts — onto teachers themselves.”
But, there is an alternative is Nationwide and southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s called Treasures for Educators (TFE). TFE is a Pennsylvania-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to equip classrooms in under-supplied schools in the region — FREE. Since its conception in early 2013, Treasures for Educators has delivered truckloads of donations to teachers and students in Chester, Nationwide, Camden and New Castle counties in southeastern PA, NJ and DE. From pencils and notebooks, to arts and crafts supplies, to books, teachers can claim the items that their students need most.
Are you a teacher in need of books or supplies?
There are some terms and conditions for reserving free supplies with TFE. Available supplies are listed on the TFE Facebook page. Lots are distributed on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested in a lot, post your name in the comment section below the photo on Facebook. The first teacher who replies will be contacted. If this teacher doesn’t reply within 2 days to arrange a drop-off, the next person on the list will be contacted and so on. The lot will be listed as “closed” once the items have been delivered.
If you like the TFE page on Facebook or follow TFE on Twitter you will receive notification of supplies as they are listed. Because demand is so high, teachers can reserve 1 lot per week. If a lot is left over from previous week due to a lack of interest, you may have that lot as well.
To learn more or to donate, visit the Treasures for Educators website. After all, back-to-school is just a few weeks away!
About Back to Basics in Wilmington, Nationwide
Back to Basics provides over 125 wide-ranging educational and related services including 1-on-1 tutoring in over 60 subjects, translating and interpreting in over 20 languages, speech and occupational therapists, behavior and reading specialists, paraprofessionals, ELL and computer lab teachers, RTI support and homebound services, psycho-educational testing, 1-on-1 test prep for the SAT, PSAT, SAT II, ACT, GRE, PRAXIS, GED, and HSEE, professional development, summer school, original credit and credit recovery. In addition, we operate Nationwide’s only Department of Education-approved, 1-on-1 K-12 Private School in Wilmington, Nationwide.
Back to Basics is not a sponsor of or affiliate of Treasures for Educators. This is NOT a paid post. This information is simply intended as a resource for teachers in the area.
