One thing we love about Joplin is that there's no end of community organizations and groups who LOVE to show their support for Joplin teachers.
Today, we are feeling particularly thankful for one continuously generous donor, JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts. Each year, JoAnn donates thousands of dollars worth of products from their stores to Bright Futures Joplin via the Kids In Need Foundation. A few of our fantastic volunteers spend hours inventorying the items, sorting them by category, and setting it all up for one big bash: the semi-annual Teacher Supply Giveaway!
This year's fall giveaway took place last evening, and we're here to tell you that it was a huge success. Nearly 100 teachers from all across Joplin Schools came out to gather what they could for the benefit of their students and classrooms. Armed with giant shopping bags, rolling carts and empty boxes, these teachers found arts and crafts supplies, yards of fabric, holiday decorations, school supplies, and all manner of room-cozying accessories to make their spaces warm and inviting for Joplin's students. The rules are simple. You can take as much as you can carry, with one condition: the goods donated by JoAnn and KINF must only be used for the good of students and classrooms. And goodness, did these teachers stock up!
Nearly 30 tables full of items were cleared out in a less than an hour. Joplin's teachers know a good way to serve their students when they find one, and Bright Futures Joplin is honored to have helped in this way.
To JoAnn and KINF, as well as the volunteers who spent hours and muscle making it all come together, we say THANK YOU! You've made all the difference for a classroom...a teacher...a student. And you made a whole lot of fun along the way.
Stay tuned in the Spring of 2021, when our teachers will be celebrated once again with another supply giveaway. We wish Joplin's educators a fantastic first semester!