CINCINNATI — It’s not just students, but teachers are stocking up on school supplies to start the year, and one group is giving it all away, all school year. 

What You Need To Know

  • Instead of giving teachers a total to pay, cashiers at Crayons to Computers in Cincinnati tell them how much they've saved 

  • The group is giving away school supplies to teachers from schools with 55% or more students on free or reduced lunch

  • With increased inflation, organizers say they're seeing more teachers fill up on the classroom goods

Molly Pfalz has a long list of school supplies she needs to fill her first-grade classroom. 

“I use so many things for prizes and everything goes to the kids,” said Pfalz. 

She estimated this year it’ll cost around $900 for her classroom and others at her school, but she doesn’t have to pay for it.

None of the teachers coming in to stock up at Crayons to Computers in Cincinnati have to pay anything. 

It’s the reason the line to get in the store was going out the door. 

“This year with inflation being 9% plus or minus, that $500 to $1,000 this year, might be $545 to almost $1,100 out of teacher’s pockets, and we also know that teachers didn’t get a raise to cover that increase,” said Amy Cheney, president of Crayons to Computers. 

Cheney said they’ve been taking in donations to keep the shelves full. 

“We receive financial donations that enables us to keep the doors open to purchase product like the product here behind me, so those basic core items are things we purchase consistently to make sure we have them throughout the school year,” said Cheney. 

For a $30 access fee, teachers can go on ten school supply shopping sprees at the store and get everything free during the school year. 

They can shop for their classrooms or entire schools where 55% or more students benefit from free or reduced lunch. 

“We have a pretty good mix of kids who do have things and who don’t, so this helps fill that void,” said Pfalz. 

Pfalz said she knows she’ll be back. 

“I take full advantage of it because I’m just so very thankful that Crayons exists for us… it’s so wonderful,” said Pfalz. 

For more information on how you can sign up, volunteer, or donate to Crayons to Computers, click here.

There are also teacher resource centers that offer free school supplies at Crayons to Computers in Dayton and Shoes and Clothes for Kids in the Cleveland area.