She Supports: Why we’re backing Midwest teachers this holiday season.
It’s Giving Tuesday, and it’s truly the good vibe-iest day of the year. After a holiday kick-off weekend full of shopping and deal-hunting, it’s a breath of fresh air to shift focus to causes that truly matter. Whether you’re supporting a global movement, donating to a local non-profit, or simply helping out a neighbor, today is a day of giving and gratitude, and we hope you’ll find a way to participate.
Part of our business model includes a give-back element, and we like to home in on a specific cause around the holidays. This year, we decided to support folks who are close to home and in a way that we can have full control over where each dollar is spent. We landed on teachers who, in the best of times, are not getting enough support, pay, etc. This year, we’re asking the world of them, with zero incentive, and they are showing up big time. So, we looked at how we can directly support them now and in the back half of the school year.
It’s no secret that teachers often work in environments with limited resources and they dip into their own pockets to appropriately outfit their classrooms with critical supplies. For this reason, many teachers have online school supply wish lists. So, we’re going to help fulfill those asks. Until the end of the year, 5% of our sales will be earmarked to providing supplies to Midwest teaches. And, today only, we are personally matching every dollar of that 5%.
Why teachers?
You may not know this, but I (Charlotte) went to school to be a teacher. I attended one of Wisconsin’s most highly-regarded teacher education programs at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and graduated with a degree in English and Secondary Education. I also graduated at a time when the Wisconsin economy was rough (on the tail end of 2008 recession) and finding teaching jobs or any jobs was hard to come by. I substitute taught for a while and taught summer school, and ultimately decided I wasn’t ready to settle into a long-term career at the age of 22 and took off for a little bit of living in Chicago.
Even though I never settled into a career of teaching English to high schoolers, I still attribute much of my career success (and, really, life success) to my college teaching program. There’s probably not a single one of us who can’t recall a favorite teacher or important lesson, and even in the weird world that is 2020, kids deserve that kind of connection.
I could go on about the political climate of education, how teachers are underpaid/under-resourced, but none of that is a hot take. So, for now, we do the best we can. And, our best is being able to provide a small measure of support via school/classroom supplies for hardworking, ever-deserving teachers.
How to help
If you feel called to help us support Midwest teachers, here are some ways you can do that:
Shop at donorthbrand.com/shop and 5% of sales will be earmarked for classroom supplies. Remember that today only (Giving Tuesday), we’ll match that 5% dollar for dollar.
Donate directly via Venmo to @Charlotte-Pike with note TEACHERSEASON in the notes. We’ll be sure to include your donation in our pool of funds.
Nominate a teacher by emailing us at contact@donorthbrand.com. Please include a link to their online supply wish list. Teachers, feel free to nominate yourselves 😊
Many teachers have Amazon wish lists through which you can purchase and ship directly. If you choose not to donate through our channels, we encourage you to explore donation on your own.
At the beginning of January, we’ll be sending out supplies, so we’ll be sure to let you know where your dollars are being put to use.
Wishing you a happy, giving holiday season.
Charlotte