“There is a lot of uncertainty at the start of the fall semester and we want to reduce the burden on thousands of students, teachers and parents,” he said Gary Sloan, Chief Domestic Operations Officer for Children’s Nutrition. “When Feed the Children opened its first Teacher Store location in 2010, we were committed to providing school-age children with the educational resources they need to break the cycle of poverty, even with the current pandemic our mission stays the same It may look a little different, but we will continue to serve our hardworking teachers as they meet their students where they are and work towards the hope of a better future. “
Feed the Children’s Teacher Store locations were established as a resource for educators providing teaching resources, school supplies, books, and even snacks to teachers in school districts that offer free and discounted meals to more than 50% of their students. With so many children and families still waiting to receive federal aid through the pandemic EBT program, paying for school supplies will most likely be a heavy burden for millions of families, in addition to the 11% or more of the population who are still are unemployed. Let teachers dig deeper into their own pockets to buy the basic items necessary for learning.
This year’s back-to-school list may look very different from what it has been in the past. She combines basic school items with supplies for proper hygiene to prevent the virus from spreading. Whether a child starts the school year virtually or in person, it’s important to make sure they have the resources they need to succeed. To keep the kids healthy and focus on learning, Feed the Children offers the following tips on best practices for the new school year:
- Review proper hand washing techniques with students. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleaning your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best ways to contain the spread of the virus. It is more important than ever that the youngest children learn and use this practice. It is also important to educate them about the proper use of hand sanitizer when hand washing is not an option. Feed the Children’s Teacher Store locations are offering hand sanitizing options for classrooms this new shopping year.
- Make sure each child has a supply of school supplies for themselves. The days when school supplies like glue, scissors and markers were shared in community projects could be over for the coming school years. Disinfecting each product after each use is a huge undertaking. By giving each child their own supplies, you can make sure they get the materials they need and stop the spread. The Teacher Store locations will provide teachers with early supplies throughout the school year so that teachers can stock up.
- Develop and maintain healthy eating habits for students. Boosting a child’s immune system through proper nutrition during COVID-19 can make all the difference. Given the poor diet that contributes to chronic illness and a child’s ability to focus in the classroom, it is important to ensure that children receive snacks and meals that will fuel their development. Feed the Children regularly provides the teachers with nutritious snacks that they can distribute to their students throughout the day.
Follow current CDC recommendations on large gatherings and social distancing Oklahoma City, Okla., Elkhart, Ind., Bethlehem, Penn., and La Vergne, Tenn., have postponed the reopening until after Labor Day. After reopening, the stores will implement new safety and hygiene practices to ensure that all customers are comfortable while shopping. In the meantime, Feed the Children continues to explore various ways to reach teachers who are now in need of supplies – outside of them visiting the physical teacher store locations. The nonprofit works with community partners to deliver backpacks and school supplies to thousands of students, as well as host pop-up locations for teacher shops while pursuing social distancing practices with a limited number of shoppers.
For more information on Feed the Children Teacher Store locations, visit feedthechildren.org/resources/teacher-store/ or the Facebook page facebook.com/FeedtheChildrenTeacherStore.
About feeding the kids
At Feed the Children we feed hungry children. We imagine a world in which no child goes to bed hungry. In the United States and internationally, we are committed to helping families and communities live stable lives and reduce the need for tomorrow’s help, while providing them with the food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local partners, support teachers and students, and quickly mobilize resources to support natural disaster recovery efforts. Internationally, we manage child-friendly community development programs in 10 countries. We welcome partnerships because we know that our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships.
Visit feedthechildren.org for more information.
SOURCE Feed the children
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