Giving Back: Feed the Children’s Teacher Store

Nothing heralds the start of fall like school supplies: unsharpened pencils. Tidy binders. Fresh notebooks, ready to be written in. But not every kid has access to the materials required to make the school year a success. National nonprofit Feed the Children firmly believes that education is one of the best ways to help children escape the cycle of poverty. Dedicated to reducing barriers for at-risk children and increasing access to educational resources, and recognizing that “teachers are spending more and more out of pocket every day to cover the cost of supplies,” they founded the Teacher Store—a place where teachers can shop for necessities for their classrooms—for free.

Bethlehem’s Teacher Store is one of five in the nation. Store Supervisor Beth Baier oversees stock, and works closely with her team of volunteers—“I get to meet so many people from different walks of life,” she says, “and watch them come together to help a great cause and make the world a little better.” She also liaises with participating school districts, and hopes that even more districts register for the program; “we would love nothing more than to help as many area teachers and students as we can.”

“I get to meet so many people from different walks of life and watch them come together to help a great cause and make the world a little better.”

In addition to traditional school supplies, the Teacher Store strives to support all a child’s needs. “We try our best,” says Beth, “to stock our shelves with classroom staples but we also have personal hygiene items, and sometimes food that teachers can take for children who may need it.”

The Teacher Store is here to lift children and teachers together. “We want to work alongside educators to help fill the gap, and provide students with the materials needed for success in the classroom,” Beth says. Her hope is to keep changing lives, providing “the pencils, binders, and books that help these kids get through school and graduate. Sometimes it’s the small things that make a difference and impact a child’s life.”

For more information, visit their website or call 610.419.9356.