Scraps KC's Teacher Resource Center helps teachers save money on school supplies

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Scraps KC is a Kansas City nonprofit, that does a number of different programs and events, while serving as an arts and crafts reuse store. Its mission highlights ways to recycle and re-purpose materials used in classrooms, offices or projects and keep them out of landfills, reselling those items for a fraction of the cost.

The nonprofit also has a space dedicated for its Teacher Resource Center. It's a reuse center dedicated exclusively for educators across the metro. The center serves six counties in the region: Cass, Clay, Platte, Jackson counties on the Missouri side and Wyandotte and Johnson counties on the Kansas side.

Scraps KC Executive Director, Kathleen Barbosa says educators who are members can come to the Teacher Resource Center once a month and fill a shopping cart full of school supplies for their classrooms.

"Last year, we served 590 teachers in our region. This year, we anticipate serving an additional 200 teachers just because the need has continued to grow as school budgets get tighter and tighter with demands and we know that teachers are dipping into their own pocket," Barbosa said. "On average, teachers spend about $895 a year out of their own pockets to fund supplies for their classrooms, so we're really trying to combat that because we know that teachers are already so underpaid."

Barbosa said on an average shop at the center, it yields teachers over $300 worth of free supplies, helping fill a need for both teachers and their students.

"In Missouri, I think it's important to point out that our average teacher pay ranks 48^th in the country, so there's a real need here in Missouri and especially in schools that are underserved," Barbosa said. "Jackson County has over 200 schools that qualify for Title I, that 40% of those kids alone qualify for free and reduced lunch. So there's a need both on the kids side and teachers side and we really seek to serve the teachers who see that need first hand and put the resources into their hands to support kids all across our region."

Barbosa says in order to apply, teachers will need to have a valid teacher photo ID. They'll apply for a teacher membership online and they'll get approved. The one time annual fee is $35 and they can shop for free, for the months the school year's open.

Educators who are interested, can apply here.
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