I would also like to know how you went about getting companies to donate. Our school's head of testing approached me today and requested some calculators so that each student would have a calculator during year-end testing. Does anyone know of a manufacturer that would donate calculators? Please e-mail me.
Dragonlady,
I would also love to know how you are able to get those items donated. We are a very small school in a poor community and need a lot of help. Thanks for any input you have!
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Dragonlady
How do you go about getting companies to donate such items? Are they donations from the manufacturer themselves? Do you write to them or call, how do you ask, what do you say? Are they local to you?
Thanks,
Kidsfirst
Our teachers had a wish tree posted in their classroom on Meet the Teacher night. Parent's took off items from the tree and sent that into the classroom. Every teacher had different things on there. In my sons class it was paper towels, snacks, kleenex, waterless soap (can't think of the real name!!)stuff like that.
In our school district no child has to buy any school supplies. The district supplies the basics that are needed. Sometimes a teacher will ask for a specific type of folder or something but pretty much the district provides everything until about 5th or 6th grade.
This year we asked our principal to create a Staff (that included everyone classroom teachers, custodians, cafeteria, etc.)Wish List for the PTO. So far the 1st item they've asked for is a laminater. We are hoping to be able to buy that after the first of the year. The next thing they wanted was pencils (they school provides each student with a new pencil every month), for that we've requested donations from companies and have already received 2000 pencils. The next thing they wanted was Dry Erase Markers, again we contacted companies and are getting sets for every teachers donated. They also asked for 6 sets of 2 way radios for school use. We got those donated too.
So we don't really have a supply wish list to work off of, ours is more things that will benefit the total school and not just a particular classroom.
And yes I am serious here as well as being a little funny! Dont complicate it, just ask directly - we did and we now have a list of about 200 items out of over a thousand that are prioritized and being worked from a number of funds, PTO, School and district.
We did not send out a written request like this though, the principal sent an email, and I went around talking to every teacher on a catch as catch can. But I did ask them if you could wish it what would it be! Nothing like a personal touch to make people think you are serious also!