By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A Facebook group started to help classrooms get needed supplies is building off its successful first year in 2020 in the hope of helping even more students and teachers this school year.
Last summer, Salinan Penny Thompson started the Facebook group Support a Classroom - Saline Co. Kansas to connect teachers in need of classroom supplies with community members willing to help out.
"This school year will also come with new challenges equal and different from last year. The cost of school supplies this year seem to be up and like many things, in short supply," Thompson told Salina Post. "With the introduction of online school last year, this will be a new option for students that will require supplies that might be needed for those families choosing to continue this format."
According to information on the group page, "Teachers can spend on average $500 out of their own pockets during the school year, many times much more."
The concept for the group is a simple one. Teachers within Saline County post their "wish lists" for their classroom needs on the group Facebook page, often using the wish list option on online sites such as Amazon.com. Community members who are willing and able to help select which teachers they want to assist. By purchasing items through a teacher's wish list on an online site such as Amazon, community members can purchase the needed items and have them directly shipped to the teacher. But supportive community members are not bound to purchse all items on a wish list, nor are they obligated to purchase items online.
The guidelines on the group page are as follows.
TEACHERS/SCHOOLS: Let us know what you need and how we can get it to you. Wish lists are great! Please don't be shy, we want to help!
COMMUNITY: Assist where ever you can!! If a teacher posts a need and you can help fulfill it, let them know! Many teachers are using Amazon lists, but you don't have to purchase those items from Amazon. You can buy locally as well, just connect with the individual for delivery info.
Amanda Morris, who helps Thompson administer the group, said Saline County teachers posted more than 80 wish lists last year. Of those, at least 14 of the wish lists were completely fulfilled while other lists were partially fulfilled.
"We'd love to expand the group with more teachers and more members of the public. We are open to new ideas and suggestions, they can be emailed to [email protected]," Morris said.
The group currently has 940 members, both teachers and supporters from the community. A year ago, the group had more than 650 members.
"This project is about helping our teachers. We ask so much of them and they always come through, even when faced with a pandemic," Morris said.