ATKINSON COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - An estimated 15 million children in the U.S. live in extreme poverty, and for many, that means showing up to school without even basic supplies, according to Community Insights.

As families scramble to prepare for the new school year, teachers are stepping in to help, often out of their own money.

According to the National Education Association, more than 90% of teachers buy supplies out of pocket to help their students be successful in the classroom. Kindergarten teacher Spring Moore, who has taught in Atkinson County for five years, is one of those who invests her own money into her classroom and students.

“Before we even get our paycheck, we have a shopping cart already saved,” Moore said. “It’s a huge relief when the community comes in and helps shape the school year for our students.”

Moore says classroom supplies are essential because they lay the foundation for a successful year.

“I do it from the heart. They are our future, and I want to do everything I can to see them succeed,” she said.

In communities where families can’t afford the cost of basic school supplies, local donations make a huge impact not just for the students but for the school system as a whole.

That impact goes beyond county lines. Officer Rigo Victoria of the Douglas Police Department says he sees the joy firsthand when children pick up donated supplies at back-to-school supply drives.

“Even the last ones getting the very last bit, just two pencils, they’re happy when they get that stuff,” Victoria said. “You can see their big smiles coming through the table.”

For educators like Moore and the many students who rely on their generosity, one pencil at a time can make all the difference.

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