Community 'Teacher's Closet' Provided School Supplies to 1000 Students

Submitted by Julie Stanwick

One thousand Sandy Springs public school students have received free school supplies this school year, due to a partnership between Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF) and Community Assistance Center (CAC). Fifty percent of Sandy Springs public school students qualify for free and reduced lunches, and in these hard economic times, many students cannot afford the necessary supplies for schools.
 
SSEF provides local teachers access to free school supplies for their students. They order supplies through the SSEF website, the CAC fulfills the order from their Teacher’s Closet, and the teachers pick up their order at CAC. Local organizations, schools, residents, and companies donate the items.

In a statement, Tamara Carrera, CAC executive director said the Teacher’s Closet  “eases the way for teachers to provide students with the tools they need, and will ultimately improve their chances of success.”

The Teacher’s Closet provides school items such as binders, pencils, highlighters, erasers, crayons, markers, paper, glue, books, lunch boxes and back packs.

“The Teacher’s Closet been successful in getting supplies to our most needy students, and is also a very positive way to engage our community to take part in school supply drives which truly benefit all of our Sandy Springs students.” said Irene Schweiger, Executive Director of SSEF.

School Supplies donations for the Teacher’s Closet are welcome at the Community Assistance Center, 1130 Hightower Trail Atlanta, GA 30350. Supplies needed may be found at www.sandyspringeducationforce.org.