Excited about sending your child back to school this fall, but not too thrilled about the price of school supplies? Every year, both parents and teachers share mixed feelings about their budgets as a new school year commences. While parents and teachers want the best notebooks, pencils and backpacks for their little learners, splurging too much on colored pencils and crayons can break the bank for many families.
Students whose parents cannot afford to purchase the necessary school supplies each year can suffer negative psychological consequences, such as feelings of inadequacy and lack of motivation. Feeling embarrassed for not having a brand new backpack or the trendiest binders can make showing up to school feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, through Educator Warehouse, teachers can ensure that their students receive the tools they need in order to succeed.
To help WSFCS teachers foot the bill for their students’ supplies, the Educator Warehouse allows teachers to shop through thousands of donated and gently used school supplies. The Forsyth Educator Partnership, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Council of PTAs and WS/FCS joined forces to create the Educator Warehouse facility, located behind Diggs-Latham Elementary School. Local businesses and individuals can donate supplies to help support Educator Warehouse and allow teachers to supply their classrooms for a fraction of the cost. Over the last year, Educator Warehouse has been grateful to receive an abundance of corporate in-kind donations, especially in the form of binders and hanging folders. Don’t have supplies on hand but want to donate anyway? Educator Warehouse also accepts monetary donations from anyone willing to lend a hand. Monetary donations allow the organization to allocate funds as needed to fill inventory gaps and distribute supplies evenly among educators.
In light of the new school year, regular Educator Warehouse hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Teachers are allowed one visit to the warehouse per quarter and must sign up ahead of time online to shop on a specific day for a designated amount. Busy teachers can also take advantage of Educator Warehouse’s convenient online shopping option if they are unable to shop in person. To shop in person, visit Educator Warehouse on the Diggs-Latham Elementary School campus, located at 986 Hutton Street in Winston-Salem.
Interested in volunteering at the facility? Volunteers are crucial in keeping the operation running smoothly. Educator Warehouse is grateful for volunteers, regardless of whether they are able to commit to shifts daily, weekly or monthly. Many volunteers at the warehouse find great joy and satisfaction in relieving teachers of their financial burdens, in addition to knowing that students will have all the supplies necessary to prepare them for a solid school year.
This year, Educator Warehouse’s most needed items are listed as follows:
- Glue sticks
- Pencils
- Copy paper
- Colored pencils
- Pens
- Eraser caps
- Dry erase markers
- Dry erasers
- Highlighters and markers
- Sharpie markers
- Composition books
- Hand sanitizer
- Kleenex/Tissues
Those looking to donate funds or supplies to Educator Warehouse can visit the facility’s webpage at wsfcs.k12.nc.us/domain/6689 to find a list of commonly requested supplies, such as writing utensils, craft supplies and notebook paper, in addition to personal hygiene items like hand sanitizer and Kleenex. Those interested in volunteer can email Karel Chandler at kchandler3@msn.com or give her a call for any questions at 336.817.1673. To stay up to date on the latest announcements and news from Educator Warehouse, check out the facility’s Facebook page and follow @educatorwarehouse on Instagram.
