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The Suffolk Education Foundation is getting the Teacher Supply Store ready for the 2023-2024 school year with their “Stock the Store” campaign.

Starting back in 2018, the supply store was the result of a collaboration between SEF and Suffolk Public Schools to provide teachers with school supplies needed to help their students. 

Stationed at John F. Kennedy Middle School, the store allows teachers to “shop” monthly for free supplies at cost to the teachers. 

This week, the SEF kicked off the campaign with a goal of raising $10,000 for the supplies. Purchasing in quantity with school division discounts turns any contribution makes a difference directly to the classroom, according to an SEF news release.

To sponsor a visit for a teacher, donations of $25 are encouraged. A donation of $250 sponsors a teacher for a year, which can be provided in installments of just $21.75 per month.

Store Manager Lesa McNamara shared the importance of the store for SPS instructors.

“Every single teacher that comes here is appreciative,” McNamara said emotionally in the official TSS YouTube video. “It’s very touching because they’re grateful for everything that they get.” 

Last year the store had around 600 ‘shoppers.’ 

SEF President David Miles discussed the store’s growth as the encouragement and confirmation to continue the Teacher Supply Store as a service to SPS teachers.

“It is rewarding to know we are accomplishing the mission of supporting teachers by offering them free resources and directly impacting the classroom,” Miles said. “We are inspired to partner with others to continue to provide these services to our SPS teachers.”

In a statement, SEF board member Patrick Belcher said teachers do affect the lives of the children they teach.

“As children, we have had teachers that changed us in a positive way,” Belcher said. “If you want to make a difference in a teacher’s life the way THAT teacher made a difference in your life, consider donating to this Stock the Store campaign.”

To learn more about the Teacher Supply Store, go to suffolkeducationfoundation.org/teacher-store. To make a donation, go to suffolkeducationfoundation.org/stockstore.

 

Editor’s note: Updated first and second passage at 8:16 p.m., Friday, July 7 to reflect accuracy.