There is a place where teachers can find great resources and companies can make donations, a place dedicated to helping our community by serving educators and students and by helping the environment. It’s called Treasures 4 Teachers.
In 2004 Barbara Blalock, as Senior Regional Preschool Director for the Valley of the Sun YMCA, discovered that teachers did not have some needed items to meet the requirements of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She needed to make sure the 13 YMCA preschools were accredited through NAEYC. However, she went beyond the description of her position and began reaching out to the community to gather the school supplies the educators needed. She collected donations from Intel, Motorola, The NFL, and Goodrich, and stored them in her garage. She then went to each preschool to leave the supplies. Now Treasures 4 Teachers has two locations, one in Tempe and one in the West Valley.
I am lucky to be a volunteer for T4T and to have the opportunity to interview Blalock. She says, “Volunteers are the backbone of the organization, literally I mean that.’’ Even Blalock volunteered as the executive director for the first five years. There are volunteers with a wide range of skills some sort and others research data. Would you like to become a volunteer? Kids are welcome with an adult. This year I became a volunteer. I started packing markers in bags, building puzzles to see if they were complete, and pricing items. Now I sort items, stock and organize shelves, and assist other volunteers.
I love to work with Sandy, the volunteer coordinator, packing and pricing items. T4T makes educators and the community feel special. Homeschoolers are welcome, too. Blalock said teachers feel special because the place is just for them, it is not open to the public. It is where they can exchange ideas and support each other. Teachers find a great variety of materials, so they can offer more activities to the students. For the community, the feeling of knowing they are helping not only the teachers and the students, but the environment too is a motivation. Many materials would have gone to the trash instead, so the concept of reusing is always present.
Blalock’s message for teachers is, “Thank you for being a teacher. We need teachers.” She hopes T4T is saving teachers time and money. This hidden gem offers not just educational supplies, but volunteering opportunities as well. Make sure you stop by to take a tour of the store and to find your treasures.
Visit www.treasures4teachers.org to see how you can donate or volunteer.
