About Us

THE NEED:

• Over half of the children in Marion County cannot afford lunch, much less school supplies, leaving this group one step behind their peers each day.
• Teachers on average spend $500 – $1000 per year of their own funds to buy supplies for their classroom and students.
• Today’s economy is causing parent, teacher and school budgets to be reduced.

OUR SOLUTION:
Teachers’ Treasures bridges the gap between the great need and available resources. Many businesses and individuals have a surplus of product/materials and are in need of a positive outlet to dispose of these items. We provide a unique means to transfer these donated materials to teachers for use in their classrooms. Since being established in 2000, Teachers’ Treasures has distributed over $26.5 million worth of free school supplies.

THE BASICS

• We operate a retail-like free supply store for teachers, open year-round, with more than 300 various items a classroom teacher can use to help capture a child’s interest, creativity and commitment to learning.
• Teachers from any school (public, private, charter or parochial) in Marion County and the immediately surrounding school districts, with 40% or more of the student population on the free or reduced lunch program, are eligible.
• More than 250 schools with a total of over 100,000 students are eligible.
• Nearly 1,700 teachers participate in the program annually.

HOW IT WORKS
Eligible teachers from the qualifying schools pay a minimal annual supply fee of $35 and then “shop-free” once per month selecting the items they need. No dollar value limit is put on their selection. The average value of supplies taken per visit is over $350. We offer everything from basic school supplies like paper, pencils, erasers and crayons to art and craft supplies, books, file cabinets and desk chairs. Items in stock vary depending on the donations. Some of the products we distribute come from companies or organizations moving, re-branding, housecleaning or downsizing; other products come to us through the Kids In Need Foundation, of which we and 26 other centers are affiliates, but we are completely autonomous.

Teachers’ Treasure is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.