By: Stacy Wheeler–
Muncie, IN–Over the past four years, the BTSTS Teachers Store has invested $2.1 million in Delaware County’s Pre-K thru 12th grades through school supplies. Located at 1318 South Madison Street in Muncie, the non-profit operates a free teacher supply store every Tuesday– Thursday, from 10:30 am–5:30 pm and the first Saturday of each month from 10 am-2 pm.
According to the Kids In Need Foundation’s annual teachers survey, the majority of Delaware County teachers reporting found that 50 percent or more of their students arrive on the first day of school without all the requested and necessary school supplies. Two-thirds of the teachers reported that half of their students or more do not have adequate school supplies at home. Nearly 80 percent of the local teachers reported that by the start of the second semester, 50 percent or more of their students run out of supplies and have difficulty replacing the supplies.
“These are the reasons why our non-profit exists,” explains BTSTS Teachers Store’s board president Megan Quirk, “because we know that the economic adversity a child may live in now shouldn’t define that child’s future, nor should it ever limit a child’s access to a quality education or the potential to succeed. The BTSTS is creating more equitable classrooms across Delaware County through our teacher shopping opportunities. However, more needs to be done.”
In 2018, the BTSTS Teachers Store procured and distributed over $613,000 in classroom materials to Delaware County teachers and schools. Since joining the Kids in Need Foundation in 2017, BTSTS can leverage modest dollar amounts from local donors to receive large national product donations. The BTSTS Teachers Store serves 10,000 or more students in need and 2,000 Delaware County teachers across 70 learning environments in 14 school districts. Top school supplies distributed within the past year were #2 pencils, copy paper, dry erase markers, notebooks, binders, backpacks, books and STEM kits.
Visit btsts.org, for more information about teacher shopping opportunities and how to donate.
| BTSTS Product Donations, Jan – Dec 2018: | |
| Out of School Educational Programs | |
| BTSTS – 21st CCLC Afterschool | $763.25 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Muncie | $12,690.75 |
| Motivate Our Minds | $2,606.50 |
| MP3 Longfellow – 21st CCLC Afterschool | $35.00 |
| Muncie Civic Theatre – Youth Education | $4,643.03 |
| Muncie Public Library | $4,252.60 |
| PhyXTGears | $814.00 |
| Ross Community Center – Youth Programs | $7,459.33 |
| Unity Center of Muncie | $5,327.60 |
| Ivy Tech – Upward Bound | $398.00 |
| Subtotal | $38,990.06 |
| Schools and Corporations | |
| Charter School – Inspire Academy | $8,546.60 |
| Cowan Community School Corporation | $19,828.15 |
| Daleville Community Schools | $4,292.10 |
| Delaware Community School Corporation | $15,675.75 |
| Liberty-Perry Community School Corporation | $13,572.90 |
| Muncie Community Schools (includes YOC classrooms) | $338,687.62 |
| Non-Public School – Delaware Christian Academy | $1,951.80 |
| Non-Public School – Heritage Hall Christian School | $5,920.65 |
| Non-Public School – Saint Lawrence School | $3,824.00 |
| Non-Public School – Saint Mary School | $11,821.80 |
| University/Lab School – Indiana Academy for Sci Math Hmn | $3,680.25 |
| University/Lab School – Burris Laboratory School | $16,018.65 |
| Wes-Del Community Schools | $15,227.85 |
| Yorktown Community Schools | $23,633.20 |
| Subtotal | $482,681.32 |
|
Early Educational Programs |
|
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – Destiny Christian Academy | $8,889.30 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – Hazelwood Christian Preschool | $1,505.25 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – Kidz Korner | $6,014.88 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – Natty’s Treehouse Child Care | $1,606.15 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – Teddy Bear Child Care | $3,266.10 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 3 – TRC Headstart | $23,862.35 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 4 – Apple Tree YMCA of Muncie | $2,446.45 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 4 – Huffer Memorial Child Care | $17,029.90 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 4 – Playtime Child Care | $104.00 |
| Paths to Quality – Level 4 – United Day Care | $18,012.95 |
| Subtotal | $82,737.33 |
|
Special Donations – Local Non-profits/Organizations |
$8,712.50 |
| Total | $613,121.21 |
About BTSTS Teachers Store:
Celebrating its 15 anniversary, the Back To School Teachers Store (BTSTS) is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit serving Pre-K – 12th grade teachers who work in Delaware County, Indiana. BTSTS Teachers Store operates one of 40 free teachers stores in the United States and since 2017, became a junior affiliate of the national Kids In Need Foundation. Our mission is to provide children in area schools the basic tools for learning by transferring surplus merchandise into the hands of teachers for use in their classrooms.
