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TCTA members helping teachers in hard times

Posted at 4:52 PM, Nov 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-12 05:05:01-05

TULSA, Okla. — Canned food drives are common during this season, but the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association is doing something a little different for those in need this year.

Members of TCTA tell us this event gives them the opportunity to support other teachers.

An in-house food source, created by one of TCTA's members, 'Mama J's Pantry is for teachers who may have to choose between paying a bill or feeding their families.

Shawna Mott-Wright, TCTA Vice President, says teachers only get paid once a month.

Many struggle financially, and this could help support them in their time of need.

“Part of it we are dedicating to the food bank because we know at this point and time in the year they are going to have more of a strain on them" Shawna Mott-Wright said, "We also wanna help ease that burden and then also part of it, we wanna help teachers in support that might go embarrassed to go to the food bank.”

The TCTA will be collecting canned foods for the food bank throughout November.

Donations for 'Mama J's Pantry will be accepted all year.

"Because we have gotten help in the past, we pay it forward in hopes that they will do the same things. We don't want anybody to make the decision of do I get my car repaired or do I buy groceries," Regale said.

Regal says teachers sometimes feel like no one is looking out for them.

And if someone hits a rough spot, this can help them stay afloat.

"i just said this morning when i looked at this, it just makes my heart happy. You know, because everybody has had a rough time and everybody has needed help," Regale said.

Shawna Mott-Wright is the Vice President of Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association

"i am grateful that we could help and grateful that our member had such a great idea and such a great heart. I'm also furious that someone who is college educated and has chosen to commit their lives to serving children, would even be in this situation."

TCTA also created an art build, it looks like a giant turkey, filled with little notes explaining what they are grateful for.

"We wanted to show everybody how proud we are of everything happening in our classrooms everyday. We have mothers that say i am grateful for my teachers, i am grateful for tcta, i am grateful for education, food, robotics stem classes, art," Mott-Wright said.

The Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association is also collecting canned foods for the local food bank through November.

And Mott Wright says they will be accepting donations for Mama J's pantry year-round.

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