'Back to School U': Teachers get help with school supplies

FIFE, Wash. -- According to the National School Supply and Equipment Association, the average teacher spends $356 of their own money on school supplies each year. But, World Vision is helping those teachers with their Teacher Resource Center.

“They can shop and when they leave, they leave with $600 to $700 worth of product,” said Jim Peterson, with World Vision.

Really anything one can find in a classroom, one can find in the resource center. Families will spend an average of $634 on back to school shopping, according to the National Retail Federation.

“The sad truth is that more and more students are coming to school without supplies and it starts to single them out,” Peterson said.

But the Teacher Resource Center is helping. Last year, 3500 teachers took supplies from the center, helping 50,000 students in our area.

“I really believe that we are merchants of hopes and if a child leaves with more than they came with we have accomplished something,” Peterson said.

Teachers who work at a school with more than 70 percent of the kids on free or reduced lunch can take advantage of the program.

To learn more, click here.