BIXBY, Okla. — Tiffany McGrew teaches at Bixby Middle School, and in the past she spent hundreds of dollars on supplies every year. But the choir teacher said this summer more people are getting creative, sharing wish lists on social media to get help.
"This year almost every teacher in my Facebook friends list shared their list, which is really kind of cool to see that people are all sharing and we're filling those lists. But at the same time it's really sad to me that we've had this huge jump saying "we need help," McGrew said.
Some groups on Facebook even allow educators to share supplies with each other as they change grade levels or schools.
"We as teachers like to give, it's who we are as teachers, I think most of us. So it's one thing when we spend that money on our own students, but it's a huge blessing for people to be able to spend that on another teacher's classroom and have someone else bless them in return. It's been a really neat thing to watch," McGrew said.
Two years ago Teresa Danks got national attention when she took to the streets, panhandling for school supplies. Since then she's left the classroom, and now focuses her attention on fundraising for students and teachers in need.
"She can now feed her children and put gas in her car. That's a feeling that's second to none and I discovered that feeling the day that I stood on the streets," Danks said.
Educators said as they wait for additional funding from the state, the Green Country community is meeting the demand.
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