Setting aside the sad fact that many teachers across the United States have to crowdfund or dip into their own pockets to purchase essential items for their classrooms, the outpouring of support for teachers in recent years has been overwhelming.

From parents who purchase extra sets of school supplies for other students, to people who buy items for school supply drives, to people who donate to campaigns on websites like DonorsChoose, a lot of people are willing to pay extra to help fund education for our society’s children, some of whom they may not even know.

Some of the items sought through these programs across the nation are absolute essentials — thinks like dry-erase markers, glue sticks and printer paper. Some are needed for special projects or activities the teachers may want to do. And some are “dream” items that the teacher feels will enhance their learning space and make their students feel more comfortable.

Statistics show that teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to purchase items for their classrooms. The Economic Policy Institute, according to reporting in today’s paper by Jimmy LaRoue, says the average for Virginia teachers is $400. Nationwide, it is $459.

For a profession that already doesn’t earn a lot of money, that’s an untenable situation. But until education is funded as it deserves in this country, teachers will continue to need help buying items for their classroom.

The recent “Clear the Lists” movement encourages teachers to set up Amazon wish lists and post them online, so other people can easily purchase items with a few clicks and have the items sent straight to the teacher.

With the state of affairs in education funding, we think this is a great idea and hope to see more people — particularly people who aren’t teachers themselves — participating. Whether it’s a DonorsChoose donation, a Clear the Lists purchase, an extra set of supplies sent with your student or even just a couple of extra packs of printer paper or containers of hand sanitizer every so often, everything helps.