CINCINNATI, Ohio — Depending on the number of children in your family, the cost of back-to-school shopping can range from just expensive to absolutely mind-boggling. For teachers, who might have to provide supplies and prepare classrooms for more than 20 students, it's even more significant.
"We know that every year, teachers will spend anywhere from $500 to $1000 of money from their own pocket," Crayons to Computers CEO Amy Cheney said.
Some, such as art teachers who buy their own supplies, spend even more. That's why Cheney's organization works to help take the edge off the high price of providing a good education by allowing teachers at qualifying schools to "shop" in rows of school supplies they can pick up for free.
"(I save) thousands," art teacher Judith Lamb, who used to buy all of her students' art supplies out of pocket, said. "Every time I come here and they add it up, it's $1,000 at least for every shopping trip."
Teachers who qualify for the program are those who work at schools where at least 60 percent of the student body qualifies for free and reduced lunch.
Watch the video above to learn more — and see how happy teachers are to get a little help creating awesome classrooms.
