Free Teacher Market

HELP ERASE THE NEED - DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES TODAY

Because so many of our families qualify for free and reduced lunch, 100% of Polk County Public Schools participate in the Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility program providing all students with breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Many families are struggling to provide even the most basic school supplies such as pencils and paper. Students should come to school without worrying if they will have the tools they need for academic success. Your donations can make a difference!

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

The Free Teacher Market is open three times a month for
Polk County Public Schools educators!

The Free Teacher Market provides much-needed school supplies into the hands of students and teachers! For some students and families, even the most basic school supplies are out of reach. The Free Teacher Market helps erase the need in local classrooms by inviting Polk’s public and charter school teachers to shop four times a year. Teachers pick up much-needed supplies to ensure their students have the tools they need for school. As an added bonus, your support helps to lessen the burden on teachers’ budgets. Visiting teachers shop without spending a penny out of their own pocket. Want to help Erase the Need for students in Polk? Donate much needed new school supplies and gently used office items to the Polk Education Foundation’s Free Teacher Market.

The Free Teacher Market is a distribution program that accepts new and gently used donations from your home, office or business. Companies might consider donating excess inventory, surplus or marketing items. The Free Teacher Market then makes these donated items available free of charge to Polk’s public and charter school teachers. Due to the generosity of community donors, the Free Teacher Market is open two to three times a month throughout the school year. See the link below for a list of requested items that you may have around your house or office. YOUR donations help make a difference in the lives of students and teachers in Polk County!

“I am a new hire (and new to Florida). I was shocked and impressed when I learned about the Free Teacher Market. I have never heard of anything like this and have always spent hundreds of dollars a year on essentials my students need and supplies for the classroom. I left all of my teaching supplies behind at my last school and was not looking forward to the cost of replacement.

The Free Teacher Market has been a considerable help for me! I was not sure what to expect but I found several things I needed for my new classroom, like a pocket chart and chart paper. The smaller items like note cards, pencil sharpeners, and sticky notes have stocked my shelves. I really appreciate that I was able to get free backpacks and binders; I had students in need of both and it was great to have these provided.

In addition to the material items received, my favorite part about the free teacher market was the culture of appreciation for teachers. It means a lot to me that the community values teachers and seeks to assist in making their lives a little easier!

It difficult to express my level of gratitude in words but please know that this Free Teacher Market has been a wonderful help to me and my students. I am so happy that my husband’s job brought us to Polk County and that I am now able to work in such a supportive area. Thank you again!“

~ Spessard Holland Elementary Teacher

“I would like to thank you and let you know how much I appreciated the Free Teacher Market. I had the pleasure of participating in last week! I work at Caldwell Elementary School. It’s a Title one school that is facing many challenges this year. Every day I work with students that are in need of many things. With this shopping trip, I was able to allow some of them to have their own supplies such as notebook paper, pencils, erasers, crayons, and scissors.

I have one 5th grade student that I was able to bring a smile to her face. She recently transferred to C.E.S.. Her zippered binder (required for our 5th graders) was taken by an unknown person. When I was shopping, I noticed a green zippered binder on the shelf. I immediately thought of this young lady and put it in my shopping bag! Along with some of the other supplies, I was able to put together a ready-to-go binder for her. The next morning I 
presented the supplies and binder to her. She was so thankful! She literally has not stopped smiling. She is proud of her gifts and is putting forth her best effort to keep her work caught up and do her best! 

Your generosity makes a difference in our student’s lives. Thank you again!“

~ Caldwell Elementary School Teacher 

FINANCIAL SPONSORS:

B&I Contractors, CPS Investment Advisors, Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Eckerd Connects/Strive Academy, Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation, Grand Canyon University, Lion's Club Lakeland, Polk Association of Women Lawyers, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Publix Super Markets Charities, School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, and Suncoast Credit Union Foundation.

In-Kind Donations: IGT, Interact Alliance, Lighthouse for the Blind, PCPS District Office, Retired Teachers, State Farm Agent – Michell Githens, and many more!

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend my first-ever Free Teacher Market. It was such an exciting experience. We used the supplies for sensory boxes in our classrooms and other projects we had been trying to create but were unable due to cost! Thank you again for your contributions. I know it is enjoyed by many teachers like myself.” – Teacher from Scott Lake Elementary

Donation Idea Lists

Do you have new or gently used supplies/materials that you don’t need anymore? Go Green! These supplies/materials are valuable resources for Polk County teachers and can be used as teaching tools in our schools.

Teacher Market Donation Receipt

Whats is the free teacher market?

The Free Teacher Market is a place where Polk County public school teachers can visit to obtain free supplies for their classrooms and students. This project is administered by the Polk Education Foundation and made possible by donations of supplies and funds from individuals, business and civic organizations in our community. The store is located on the western most side of the Bartow Middle School campus, in two portable buildings. The physical address is 550 E Clower St, Bartow, FL 33830.

Questions Relating to Donations

Questions Relating to Teachers and Volunteers