KidSmart Re-Opens For Shopping
On Monday, Aug. 6 the KidSmart Free Store will re-open for shopping. St. Louis area teachers will have the chance to shop for free school supplies for their students in need.
Last year teachers helped distribute more than $3 million in donated school supplies from KidSmart to local children in need. The KidSmart Free Store will be open for shopping from 3 - 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and most Saturdays from September through May.
Teachers at schools where 70% or more of the students qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, a national poverty index, are eligible to shop at KidSmart. Teachers typically receive more than $500 in free supplies for his or her students in need during each shopping trip.
"Because of the generosity of the St. Louis community our shelves are stocked with everything from crayons and paper to office furniture and books," says Store Manager Natalie Ellis, "Our teachers will be able to make sure their students start the school year off right, with the tools they need to succeed in school."
More than 80,000 St. Louis area children are eligible for KidSmart's services. KidSmart currently serves more than 40,000 of these students who attend more than 70 local schools.
To be eligible to shop, teachers must be a full-time, state certified teacher with his or her own classroom, at one of KidSmart's eligible schools. Teachers are eligible to shop once a month during an assigned week. Teachers from schools not eligible to shop can earn a shopping trip by participating in KidSmart's Volunteer to Shop program.
For more information contact Natalie at (email) ore 314-291-6211.