Launched in 2007 through a partnership between the Chapel Hill – Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF) and the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club, the annual Teacher Supply Store supports teachers in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). On average, teachers spend $1,000 of their own money each year to purchase classroom supplies.
The Teacher Supply Store gives all certified instructional staff in CHCCS the opportunity to stock up on free classroom supplies before students return. From first-year teachers setting up their classrooms to school social workers who need extra supplies for students, educators can choose from notebooks, markers, tissues, sanitizing wipes, and other essential items. These supplies help teachers create welcoming learning environments so they are ready to teach and students are ready to learn.
“The annual Teacher Supply Store has been an important way our community invests directly in teachers and students.”
“This event to support our teachers is a wonderful example of what can happen when community organizations come together to support public education.”
Madeline Blobe, Executive Director of CHC Public School Foundation.
The Teacher Supply Store is made possible through a longstanding partnership between the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation and the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club, which provides most of the funding for the program. In addition to its financial support, Rotary members volunteer their time to organize, set up, stock, and staff the store each year. Together, the two organizations have sustained this valued back-to-school tradition for nearly two decades. UNC Health and Staples are also long-standing supporters of the store, and many local businesses are collecting school supplies to support the effort.
“Our Rotary members look forward to volunteering each year because we know these supplies make a meaningful difference for teachers and the students they serve.”
Tim Smith, ECHR Supply Store Chair
How can you help?
- Donate to purchase classroom school supplies
- Purchase items from their wish list
- Drop off new or gently used supplies at Lincoln Center
- Host a donation box at your business or in your neighborhood
- Volunteer to help at the Teacher Supply Store
To support CHCCS teachers and students, visit www.publicschoolfoundation.org and follow PSF on social media.