Four truckloads of educational material, worth more than $300,000, will be provided to certified public and private school teachers between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day.
For planning purposes, however, only private school teachers who previously registered for the event will be admitted to the store, said Dee Andrews, manager of corporate special projects at Norcom, the Griffin-based school supply manufacturer spearheading the event.
This largest event of its kind benefits both educators and students. Teachers get some relief from the average $1,200 per year they spend on school supplies out of their own pockets, according to Andrews.
As the instructional supplies they receive are tailored specifically to their students’ grade level and subject, teachers can then pass these supplies on to their students at their discretion.
“It comes down to the teacher knowing the needs of the classroom,” said Elizabeth Chewning, communications specialist for the Griffin-Spalding County School System, which organizes the event with Norcom and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Members of the Griffin High School JROTC, the Spalding High School JROTC and the Spalding High School football team will unload trucks, take supplies to the school, sort them and later assist teachers loading them. More volunteers are welcome but must register through the school system’s central office.
“No matter what skill or physical ability, we can use them,” Chewning said.
As in recent years, the event has already drawn a variety of supporters in the community, among them the Griffin Rotary Club, the Griffin Wal-Mart Supercenter, the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation, the Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education, Nickell Equipment Rental & Sales and Georgia Banking Company.
“I’m extremely excited,” said Hal Rahn, president of Norcom. “This is one of those things you get to do that gets directly to the people who need it. We feel an obligation to do it.”
Post a Comment