What looks like trash to the rest of the world is treasure to teachers – both literally and figuratively.

At Treasures4Teachers, bins filled with waste and stench are piled on shelves.

One trash can contains a bunch of used but unbroken crayons. Another has a flock of pull tabs. A hard plastic floppy disk is placed elsewhere.

These are just a few of the many shelves piled up at Treasures4Teachers. Treasures4Teachers is a non-profit organization that bridges the gap between the need for tools and supplies and effective teaching.

Adrienne Ledford, who opened Treasures4Teachers eight years ago, said:

“Loose parts are part of the new STEM movement. I give them foam, nuts and bolts, whatever, and they just build it.”

Treasures4Teachers is powered by donations and prayers. But this month, Ledford received good news in the form of her $25,000 grant from Angel Charity for Children. When she heard the news, she could hardly believe it.

“It was extraordinary that Angel Charity won,” she said.

“I didn’t expect it. I applied on a whim. If they don’t, I’ll try something else.They called me and I almost died.”

Based in Tucson, Angel Charity strives to meet the needs of all children ages 0-18 in Pima County. Of course, this is an impossible task, but it never stops our members from striving for that goal. Carrie Durham.

One way to do this is by raising funds and giving grants to nonprofit organizations in Pima County that serve children. This year, Treasures4Teachers is one of her seven nonprofits awarded a check out of over 50 nonprofits that applied.

Applying was no easy task.

“It’s pretty extensive,” said Durham. “They have to be 501(c)(3) (charities). They have to tell who they are, what they do, audits, file tax returns. It basically has to show the work they’ve done and the demographics they serve.”

Then there was the Angel Charity Charity Selection Committee presentation, where Ledford spoke about Treasures4Teachers. Their mission fell within the realm of Angel her charity.

“Many of us in that body remembered COVID, how devastating it was for families and how families quickly learned how important teachers were,” Durham said. said.

“There is a huge shortage of funding for teachers from Arizona.

Treasures4Teachers works by membership. $35 a year with unlimited shopping. Not just loose items. It’s the books — textbooks, picture books, middle school and young adult novels, books to help teachers deal with children’s emotional problems, and so much more.

There are classroom posters and whiteboard markers. yarn and needles; games, puzzles, appliances, things like working printers waiting for a new home. Many items are free. Many are $1 or $2. Then there are $5 bags that member teachers can walk down the aisle and fill.

“It’s $35 a year,” says Ledford. “We have him open four days a week. If you want, you can come in anytime for four days and take as much as you want.”

This $35 membership fee is part of Ledford’s grant-funded plans.

“On April 1st, we’re giving away 100 free memberships to teachers,” says Ledford. She’s also gifting her 6 T to T-Mobiles. This is when T-Mobiles delivered about $1,200 worth of supplies and snacks to the Title 1 schools each. Finally, the grant will cover the salaries of two part-time employees.

The organization is funded by donations of goods and money. One of their donors is Joann Fabrics, who sends goods that would otherwise end up in landfills. The local 100 yen shop is the same. Most people think of office supplies when they think of classroom needs, but Ledford wants something else.

“[People]think of paper and pencils, crayons and markers,” Redford said. “No. I don’t want that stuff. I prefer loose parts for science projects. These are things teachers have to spend money on in other big box stores.”

Redford wants toilet paper cores (the inner cardboard part), egg cartons, and, frankly, money.

“During the pandemic, teachers suffered,” Redford said.

“I saw a lot of crying teachers and they were badly accused because the kids weren’t learning. They weren’t prepared to handle (shut down) properly. Kids is lagging behind and I’m having a hard time catching up.People say, “Why do we have to have this kind of place?” Because it helps children learn better. “

“The group of people at Treasures4Teachers is amazing and again, we can’t do enough for teachers right now,” added Durham.