(MOBILE, Ala.) July 2 - In August, tens of thousands of children along the Gulf Coast will be heading back to school, because of budget cuts and job losses, many children will enter class without the tools they need to succeed. Those children will be in need to school supplies, and NBC 15 NEWS is asking for help to get those children the tool they need.
Rosemari Farrel says she is not only teaching her first-grade students basic shapes, she is teaching her students how to conserve. She says she has her students take a dot of the glue she passes out so they know not to use the whole bottle.
Because without money in the school system's budget to spend on glue and other school supplies, teachers have to find ways to stretch their supplies.
Farrel says teachers need scissors, crayons, glue, construction paper, pencils and numerous other supplies, because many students walk into their classrooms in the fall without the supplies they need for class.
This year, teachers say they expect to see even more children come into class empty handed, and this year it will be difficult to help those children. Before, teachers say they would use their own money to buy supplies for the children, but this year, they say they cannot afford to do that.
Farrel says tough times are hitting teachers, and those teachers are getting less money from the school's budget and have less money to spend on supplies.
Without the school supplies they need, teachers fear many students will see their grades start to slip. Teachers say students can fall behind in the classroom, but those students can also fall behind in their homework and special projects that need schools materials to complete.
NBC 15 News is teaming up with Wal-Mart and schools systems in Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Monroe, Escambia, Washington and Conecuh counties to help gets students and teachers the materials they need through the Tools for Schools supply drive.
Monday, July 27, NBC 15 News is asking you to head to your local Wal-Mart between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. to drop off school supplies. Every supply collected in the county, will go to your county's school system.
