Excited about sending your child back to school this fall, but not too thrilled about the price of school supplies? Every year, both parents and teachers share mixed feelings about their budget as a new school year commences. While parents and teachers want the best notebooks, pencils, and backpacks for their little learners, splurging too much on colored pencils and crayons can break the bank for many families.

Students whose parents cannot afford to purchase their necessary school supplies each year can suffer negative psychological consequences, such as feelings of inadequacy and lack of motivation. Feeling embarrassed for not having a brand new backpack or the trendiest binders can make showing up to school feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, through Educator Warehouse, teachers can ensure that their students receive the tools they need in order to succeed.

To help WS/FCS teachers foot the bill for their students’ supplies, the Educator Warehouse allows teachers to shop through thousands of donated and gently used school supplies. The Forsyth Educator Partnership, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Council of PTAs, and WS/FCS joined forces to create the Educator Warehouse facility, located behind Diggs-Latham Elementary School. Local businesses and individuals can donate supplies or money to help support Educator Warehouse and allow teachers to supply their classrooms for a fraction of the cost.

After weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, Educator Warehouse’s teacher shopping experience has greatly increased to 40%, finally recovering after a pandemic-induced slump. Because many classrooms were learning remotely, teachers and educators conducted very little supply shopping. Although teacher shopping has increased, Educator Warehouse is still in need of volunteers and monetary donations. Educator Warehouse accepts any donations and greatly appreciates school supply drives held throughout the community to help support classrooms in need.

In light of the new school year, Educator Warehouse will be holding its open house for new teacher shopping on August 17th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., August 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for new and veteran teachers, and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for new and veteran teachers on August 19th. The following week, Educator Warehouse will be open Monday through Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular hours will resume the following Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Teachers are allowed one visit to the warehouse per quarter and must sign up ahead of time online to shop on a specific day for a designated amount. Busy teachers can also take advantage of Educator Warehouse’s convenient online shopping option if they are unable to shop in person. To shop in-person, visit Educator Warehouse on the Diggs-Latham Elementary School campus, located at 986 Hutton St. in Winston-Salem.

Interested in volunteering at the facility? Volunteers are crucial in keeping the operation running smoothly. Educator Warehouse is grateful for volunteers, regardless of whether they are able to commit to shifts daily, weekly, or monthly. Many volunteers at the warehouse find great joy and satisfaction in relieving teachers of their financial burdens, in addition to knowing that students will have all the supplies necessary to prepare them for a solid school year.

This year, Educator Warehouse’s most needed items are listed as follows:

• Glue sticks
• Copy paper
• Colored pencils
• Pens
• Eraser caps
• Dry eraser markers
• Dry erasers
• Highlighters and markers
• Sharpie markers
• Composition books
• Hand sanitizer
• Kleenex/tissues

Those looking to donate funds or supplies to Educator Warehouse can visit the facility’s webpage at wsfcs.k12.nc.us/domain/6689 to find a list of commonly requested supplies, such as writing utensils, craft supplies, and notebook paper, in addition to personal hygiene items like hand sanitizer and Kleenex. Those interested in volunteer can email Karel Chandler at kchandler3@msn.com or give her a call for any questions at 336-817-1673. To stay up-to-date on the latest announcements and news from Educator Warehouse, check out the facility’s Facebook page and follow @educatorwarehouse on Instagram.