Free 2 Teach, Others Collect School Supplies In Day-Long Drive

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Local school groups, PTA leaders, Free 2 Teach and other supporters hosted a large-scale school supply drive on Thursday.

The drive took place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Road.

Free 2 Teach is an initiative of The Schools Foundation, and operates a volunteer-run store at the old West Huntsville Elementary School.  The store offers free classroom supplies to local teachers.  If you weren’t able to make it to the supply drive, but would still like to donate, please use the Contact page on Free 2 Teach’s web site.

“Many of us can recall our school days and the excitement of arriving with our new box of supplies, filled with hope and promise of a great academic year,” said Nancy Jones, co-founder of Free 2 Teach. “We want all students to have a strong start.”

Free 2 Teach is also taking donations to purchase supplies and to help qualified families with the cost of new uniforms.

A longer teacher wish list includes construction paper, spiral notebooks, composition books, rulers, scissors, highlighters, soap, tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, books, index cards, educational games, educational videos, art supplies, and any item that supports the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) curriculum.

“Our short-term goal is to make certain that these supplies will help every child be confident and ready to learn,” said Eula Battle, co-founder of Free 2 Teach. “In the long term, our goal is to allow 3,500 teachers in Madison County’s 84 public schools to “shop” for free items, and to make sure more than 50,000 students in our community have adequate classroom materials.”

Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools and Madison County Schools go back on Monday, August 20.