INK! recently received a donation of $5,000 from THE PLAYERS Championship to support the Tools 4 Schools classroom supply program.
“It is all thanks to the support of partners and fans that THE PLAYERS is able to respond to the needs of our community by providing teachers with the supplies needed to ensure academic success for tomorrow’s future leaders and professionals,” stated Emily Bellock, Senior Director of Community Outreach, THE PLAYERS.
“INK!’s Tools 4 Schools program launched 14 years ago to provide public school teachers in St. Johns County access to free school supplies for their students,” said Cathy Newman, INK!’s Executive Director. “While school is in session between September and April, teachers can order needed supplies through an on-line system every month. Once an order is received, INK! staff and volunteers fill each order and deliver items to teachers at their schools,” she said.
Teacher Supply Orders On The Rise By 40%
“During the 2022 to 2023 school year, Tools 4 Schools filled more than 1,950 supply orders for public school classrooms in St. Johns County saving teachers approximately $130,000 in out-of-pocket purchases to provide materials for their students,” said Newman. “Over the last two school years, teacher orders have increased 40 percent each year. We estimate the savings to teachers will be approximately $150,000 during the 2023-2024 school year.”
THE PLAYERS donation will help INK! replenish inventory for high demand items including notebooks, glue sticks, pencils, erasers, and markers, and expensive items such as scientific calculators, USB storage drives, and binders.
To learn more about the Tools 4 Schools program or how you can help, visit the program page here.
