BACONTON, Ga. (WALB) — As families prepare for a new school year, many teachers are also stocking their classrooms, often paying for supplies with their own money.

According to the National Education Association, teachers are expected to spend an average of nearly $900 out of their own pockets on classroom supplies this school year. For educators working in schools serving financially disadvantaged families, that average rises to more than $1,000.

To help ease that financial burden, Georgia’s Own Credit Union surprised all 32 teachers at Mitchell County Elementary School with a $3,000 donation of classroom supplies during a pop-up shopping event Thursday.

Teachers were able to pick up essential items including Expo markers, composition notebooks, Sharpies, glue, scissors, tissues, Post-It notes, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and snacks for their students.

The donation is especially significant for Mitchell County Elementary, a Title I school where many families face economic challenges and are unable to provide additional classroom supplies.

Teacher Christopher Drakes said the annual event makes a lasting impact throughout the school year.

“They mean a whole lot. We actually look forward to this every single year. And believe it or not, these supplies, a lot of them last from the beginning of the year, all the way until the end. A lot of the supplies that we get in our classroom, we usually purchase with our own money. So for someone to come in and provide what some may consider a small token of appreciation, we look at it as a huge token of appreciation.”

Jarrod Hester with Georgia’s Own Credit Union said seeing teachers’ reactions is what makes the event worthwhile.

“It’s awesome just seeing their faces and their expressions and the feedback from coming in to this type of environment. It is awesome. So that just makes it even more special.”

Georgia’s Own Credit Union says it hopes the donation helps teachers focus on educating students rather than worrying about the cost of classroom supplies.

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