News

Teacher Shopping Days

The first day of school is only a few weeks away and teachers from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are heading to Classroom Central.

Over the past few weeks, 150 teachers a day have come to Classroom Central, picking up supplies for students who may not have them when classes start.

Executive Director Jill Dineen runs Classroom Central and said most teachers will do whatever it takes to give their students what they need. But they can get supplies here -- for free.

"They're already probably paid less than they should be, so to ask them to dig into their pocket and provide for their classroom, it's a lot of burden on an educator so that's why we're here," Dineen said.

Classroom Central is one of the beneficiaries of Channel 9's School Tools collection and many of these supplies came from our special collection day last week.

Joy Glaser is picking up some of those donations for her third-graders at Windsor Park Elementary.

"It means a lot to me because it's not money out of my pocket," Glaser said.

She said there's a critical need for donations like these, because many of her students are from low-income homes.

"It provides them with materials they don't come with. I might ask for these composition books but a student might only be able to bring one," she said.

Glaser said all of this will mean less stress for her students whose families can't afford the supplies they need.

"Just knowing that the stuff is there and they don't have to worry about it, that's one thing off their plate they don't have to worry about," Glaser said.

Those supplies will need to be replenished throughout the school year and Channel 9's School Tools drive is still accepting donations at any area Showmars Restaurants or Ashley Furniture HomeStore locations.