OKLAHOMA CITY - A two-week community-wide school supply drive to benefit students and teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools will kick off Tuesday. With more than two dozen drop-off locations across the metro area, participating is easy.
Simply take supplies – a “wish list” is available at www.TeamUpOKC.com – to one of the designated drop-off locations by Nov. 15. When the drive is over, all donations will be delivered to the Teachers Warehouse at The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
“The business community recognizes that the needs of our students and teachers are more than schools can meet on their own,” said Michael Morrison, the owner of Comtech Direct Mail Solutions who is spearheading the drive. “We want to help.”
Teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools can place online orders on a monthly basis for the supplies their students need most. White copy paper, crayons, markers, glue, safety scissors, backpacks and construction paper are some of the most requested items.
Sponsors of the TeamUpOKC drive include Comtech, Farmers Insurance Group, Oklahoma City Barons, Oklahoma Employees Credit Union, Bank of Oklahoma, FAA Credit Union, T&S Web Design, American Cleaners, Panera Bread, Ideal Homes, Oklahoma Gazette, OKC Biz, Clear Channel Communications, Feed the Children, SportClips, Hertz, Red Bud Financial Group, The Journal Record, Social-ism.biz and Jason’s Deli.
Since its inception in 2008, Teachers Warehouse has distributed more than $700,000 in free supplies to Oklahoma City classrooms. The vast majority of the school district’s students and their families live at or near the poverty line and struggle to provide even the most basic supplies. Teachers often try to fill the gap themselves – an expensive proposition. Through the warehouse, the Foundation seeks to close the gap between what students and teachers have and what they need to be successful.
Teachers Warehouse operates 10 months out of the year in recognition that the need for supplies is an ongoing. Even with generous Teachers Warehouse sponsors including Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy and OG&E, the demand for supplies exceeds donations, particularly as the school year creeps toward Christmas and beyond the holidays.
The warehouse typically “sells out” of copy paper, hand sanitizer and other high-demand items within minutes after the monthly ordering period opens. Hundreds of volunteers are required to conduct inventory, unload and sort donations and pack orders.
“We’re grateful for the business community’s support of Teachers Warehouse and what it means for the children and teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools,” said Lori Dickinson, the Foundation’s executive director. “Academic success will be difficult to come by if students don’t have the basic materials necessary in every classroom.”
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Ideal Homes
18704 Casero Drive, Edmond OK 73012
2116 NW 182, Edmond OK 73012
2605 NW 180, Edmond OK 73012
2664 NW 181, Edmond OK 73012
13301 SW 4, OKC OK 73099
13028 SW 4, Yukon OK 73099
2341 SW 135, OKC OK 73170
American Cleaners
2707 S Broadway, Edmond OK 73013
12512 N MacArthur, OKC OK 73142
7109 W Hefner, OKC OK 73162
13901 N May, OKC OK 73134
12304 N May, OKC OK 73120
7548 Berkley Ave., OKC OK 73116
6003 N May, OKC OK 73112
7148 NW 23, Bethany OK 73008
T&S Web Design
2801 E Memorial Road, Edmond OK 73013
Oklahoma Employees Credit Union
15100 N May, Edmond OK 73013
7230 Northwest Expressway, OKC OK 73132
3020 N Stiles, OKC OK 73105
530 SW 119, OKC OK 73170
Panera Bread
4401 W Memorial, OKC OK 73134
3321 Northwest Expressway, OKC OK 73112
6800 N Western, OKC OK 73116
2035 S Meridian Ave., OKC OK 73108
Bank of Oklahoma
13600 N MacArthur, OKC OK 73142
6517 Northwest Expressway, OKC OK 73132
9520 N May, OKC OK 73120
9300 N Pennsylvania, OKC OK 73120
201 Robert S. Kerr, OKC OK 73102
2601 N Meridian Ave., OKC OK 73127
11830 S Pennsylvania, OKC OK 73170
SportClips
7640 Northwest Expressway #110, OKC OK 73132
2410 W Memorial, OKC OK 73134
5932 SW 4 Terrace, OKC OK 73128
10440 S Western, OKC OK 73139
Comtech
117 E Hill, OKC OK 73105
