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Cheap school supplies
Hello Advicenators,
I teach elementary students in a poor community school system and end up buying a lot of school supplies for my kids. Now, I am not complaining, but it has reached the point that I will have to say no to a tear stricken child who can't afford basic supplies, or I am going to starve to death.
Is there a place that I can buy school supplies in bulk, or just more cheaply than I have been?
Any advice is appreciated.
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There is a company in Columbia Maryland that may be able to help you. All they sell is school supplies. They have clearance sales as well as special pricing for bulk sales. The link to their website is below. Give them a call and see if they can be of help to you.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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Reach out to a store like Staples or OfficeMax when they do their penny sales (usually during back to school season) and ask if they'll waive the item per customer limit for a teacher. Alternatively, round up as many people as you can and buy cheap notebooks during the sales! You could also ask them if they have any "damaged" boxes that would otherwise be destroyed. For example, a company might tell them to just destroy a box and write it off, but a kid in need doesn't care if the cover is torn - it rips as soon as you throw it in your backpack anyway.
Obviously the second one you wouldn't want to break any laws but they could probably do something with charity/donation tax write offs.
Also, let your local food bank know that you need stuff. People could drop off school supplies with foodstuffs; some pantries already collect paper products. Extreme couponers could often get markers and whatnot for pennies on the dollar, but won't know to get them if you don't ask.
Finally, could you possibly do a bake sale for supplies near a local grocery store?
P.S. - Are you in the southern Mass area? I'd be more than willing to bring some stuff over for you! If you have an a dress you're allowed to share, I would also be willing to send a box of notebooks via Amazon or something. I'm a broke college senior but I can't let a kid go without a freaking notebook when I'm buying new clothes, you know?
-LM
[22/f]
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