This summer I ended up working with several teachers who were on their summer break and earning a bit of extra money by working at the WSOP. These folks were wonderful to work with and I learned A LOT about teaching/schools/students/etc.
One of the most eye-opening things I learned was how important copy paper is for teachers. I already knew that teachers spent a lot of their own money on stuff for their classrooms and stuff for their students, especially in the poorer schools in our city, but I didn't realize that in some schools teachers were given ONE CASE of copy paper and it needed to last them the entire school year (!!).
Just this past week I've seen all kinds of school supplies starting to go on sale at Walmart, Office Depot, Staples, etc, and according to the teachers I worked with, ALL of these school items--as well as cases of copy paper--would be hugely appreciated by teachers, especially in Title 1 schools where parents can't even afford pencils for their kids.
So if you are in the mood to give, consider taking advantage of all of the great school supply sales then donating these items to the poorer schools in your area. Here's an example of the school supplies needed by elementary and junior high school kids. Many school districts also welcome other sorts of donations for needy and homeless students ranging from pre-packaged foods to fill "weekend backpacks" for hungry kids, clothes/shoes/hygiene supplies for homeless kids, prom dresses for "prom closets" for girls who can't afford to buy dresses for proms, etc.
If anyone is interested, Walmart has a kiosk with sheets for each school and grade listing what each grade and school needs. I buy the sale stuff, getting ten pencils sometimes for a penny. I did use items for tutoring students and to give to grandchildren.
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