School supplies to help north-side teachers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Teachers at one Washington Township school Wednesday received much-needed surprises: boxes of supplies in the sixth annual Teachers Rock Supply Giveaway.

If it takes a village to raise a child, an entourage is helpful in educating a classroom of them. Wednesday’s entourage was a group from Carmel-based company TCC, a Verizon retailer. 

The group met at Crooked Creek Elementary School, 2150 Kessler Blvd. West Drive, and went from classroom to classroom. They delivered boxes full of school supplies: pencils, pens, glue and tissues. Each box had about $80 worth of supplies in it. 

Teacher Tim Kuskye’s fourth-grade students cheered when they were surprised with a box. 

“I had no idea they were coming. It was great,” Kuskye said.

One of the biggest challenges for teachers is keeping supplies in the classroom, especially at midyear. 

“The paper, just basic paper, sometimes runs a little short. So, it’s always great to get extra from volunteers and help,” Kuskye said. “I just appreciate it very much. I had no idea. It was a big surprise.”

Kuskey and other teachers find themselves buying what they don’t have. That’s why TCC stepped in. During the Teachers Rock giveaway, TCC delivered 15 boxes. Since 2014, the company has donated more than 30,000 supply packs around the country. 

“At TCC, we just wanted to give back to teachers. We obviously see huge value in that. Last thing we want is for them to have to come out of their own pocket,” Ryan Maners of TCC said.

Last year, TCC donated close to 190,000 backpacks with school supplies and provided care kits to senior citizens. A website shares information with the public on how to help.