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WISH-TV partners with Teachers’ Treasures for school supply drive

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In just a few short weeks, students across Central Indiana will be heading back to school. For the fourth year, WISH-TV is joining forces with Teachers’ Treasures for the Gr8 Paper Push school supply drive.

Held August 1, the drive will collect much needed school supply items such as copy paper, notebook paper, and pencils to benefit Teachers’ Treasures. Area businesses are encouraged to sign up now and begin collecting supplies. WISH-TV personalities Anthony Calhoun, Brooke Martin, Mike Barz and Marcus Bailey will visit participating area businesses to say thank you and collect the gathered donations.

Teachers’ Treasures was founded in 2000 by retired Indianapolis Public Schools principal Phyllis Imel who wanted to keep helping at-risk children in the community.

Today, educators at more than 200 schools in Marion County can shop for school supplies at no cost to them. Teachers are eligible if they teach at a school where 60 percent or more of the student population is on the free or reduced lunch program. Teachers must also pay a nominal membership fee.

“I can come down once a month and shop, and the great thing is, you never know what they’re going to have,” said Peggy Owens, a teacher at Snacks Crossing Elementary. “They always have the same basic supplies, but it’s also great because you come down here and there’s a synergy. You have other teachers come down and there’s an exchange of ideas.”

Each year, teachers spend an average of $500 to $1,000 of their own money on school supplies. They do this to support the many children of all ages who attend classes without the most basic school supplies. Teachers’ Treasures aims to reduce the burden on teachers by providing the supplies they need to help their students learn.

“At the end of the day, we all need these kids to be successful for our community, because those are our future leaders, they are the future employees, they are the future dreamers for our community,” said Margaret Sheehan, Executive Director of Teachers’ Treasures. “We all need to lift that teacher up and maybe have them focus on something else as opposed to spending money on school supplies.”

How you can get involved

Sign up your company or place of employment for the Gr8 Paper Push. Collection boxes are available by request.

Email: paperpush@wishtv.com

Tweet:  #GR8PAPERPUSH to @WISH_TV

For a list of needed items, click here.

For more information on Teachers’ Treasures, click here.

The Gr8 Paper Push is generously supported by: