Tyner Middle special education teacher Stephanie Montgomery picks out school supplies Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, on the first shopping day at the Hamilton County PTA Teacher Supply Depot, formerly the Mary Ann Garber school, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Teachers from across the area stocked up on free school supplies donated in United Way of Chattanooga’s “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive.It was a teacher’s dream come true: cases full of pencils and markers. Notebooks stacked from floor to ceiling. A whole room stuffed with art supplies.
And all of it was free.
More than 400 Hamilton County teachers took part in a $50,000 shopping spree Saturday at the annual Teacher Supply Depot. The Hamilton County Council of PTAs event is made possible by individual and business donations made during the United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign.
With more than $50,000 in supplies on hand, organizers said this year’s drive was the most successful to date. The annual event is designed to help teachers and students alike, providing supplies that would otherwise be paid for out of teachers’ pockets.
“It helps out a lot,” said Tammy Sanders, a school psychologist at Hardy Elementary and Lakesite Elementary. “We have to buy a lot of supplies for the kids, because not everybody can afford notebook paper and pencils. So now I have a stockpile for kids who need it.”