easy ways to support teachers: back to school #QuakerUp

As a paid Quaker Classroom Ambassador, I am eager to share information about Quaker Up For Classrooms.

Every child deserves the best possible start to his or her day, but sometimes that’s just not possible.

Kids come to school hungry, tired, and unprepared to learn not because they don’t want to–but because they have no other choice.

I remember all too clearly the struggles of my students and their families. And I remember all too clearly making sure I had enough supplies and snacks in my own classroom for students when they came to me for lunchtime or after school help.

I’m not alone. Teachers spend more than $1 billion a year stocking their own classrooms, and they’re buying more than just school supplies.

In fact, three in five K-8 public school teachers say their students regularly come to school hungry, and as a result these teachers typically spend $37 per month from their own paychecks on food for their students. Check out the 2013 No Kid Hungry report from 2013 for more startling facts.

The good news is that some really awesome companies are teaming up with really awesome organizations that are geared toward helping to support educators and make sure our nation’s students are fed.

Thank you, Quaker. And thank you Adopt a Classroom.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Easy Ways to Support Teachers–Back to School #QuakerUp:

Buying food for my classroom was normal.

Having a handful of extra supplies on hand was just something I did and something I remember most of my colleagues doing.

Looseleaf paper, pens, pencils, and notebooks. Crackers, granola bars, easy snacks. And I’m sure it’s no surprise–but I always had candy. Little bursts of sugar to get my crew through class and to the next one.

It helped. I swear it did.

We all want to do our part to help, but sometimes–especially when we have our arms full of our own little ones and money is tight, it’s difficult.

But there are easy ways to help. And by ‘easy’ I mean easy.

Ways you can help support teachers and their students just by doing what you’d normally be doing. Buying products you’d normally buy. I love it.

Quaker teamed up with AdoptAClassroom.org, and the partnership is powerful.

They’re working together to help teachers give their students the tools that can help students succeed.

Here’s how you can help:

1. From July 7 to Sept. 30, purchase specially-marked Quaker products and enter the unique package codes online at www.QuakerUpForClassrooms.com.

Specially-marked Quaker products include:

Instant Quaker Oatmeal Maple Brown Sugar – 10 ct.

Instant Quaker Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon – 10 ct.

Instant Quaker Oatmeal Regular – 10 ct.

Life Regular – 13 oz.

Chewy Chocolate Chip – 8 ct.

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip – 8 ct.

Quaker Oat Squares Brown Sugar – 14.5 oz.

Life Cinnamon – 13 oz.

2. For every code entered online, Quaker will donate $1 to AdoptAClassroom.org up to $250,000 (minimum donation of $150,000) to help fuel classrooms across the country.

3. You’ll get a coupon for $1 off Quaker products (yay!).

Throughout the back-to-school season, I’ll also be sharing fun ways you and your family can prep for the upcoming school year – including teacher appreciation gifts and weekday breakfast tips.

To see more great back-to-school content from myself and the other Quaker Classroom Ambassadors and join the conversation with your own teacher appreciation stories, simply follow and share with your social networks via the #QuakerUp hashtag.

Please, friends, let’s do what we can to support it!

fyi: Thank you to Quaker and AdoptaClassroom.org for creating this program. I am proud to be a Quaker Classroom Ambassador.