Educators from across Oklahoma will have an opportunity to receive free classroom supplies and books during the opening of Feed the Children’s Teacher Store Tues., Aug. 3. The store is now at its new location at 29 N McCormick Ave.
At the highly anticipated event, teachers will be encouraged to fill a bag full of classroom supplies as well as collect an assortment of books for the upcoming school year. Supplies include classroom essentials such as: notebooks, copy paper, glue, pens and instructional materials.
The opening draws thousands of teachers each year from pre-approved schools, representing more than 200 Oklahoma school districts, to visit the Teacher Store and shop for critical school supplies at no cost to them. In response to rising COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma, 50 teachers will shop per half hour Tuesday through Thursday.
OG&E is the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Teacher Store opening. Boomarang Diner is the Leadership Sponsor.
“We are thrilled to partner with Feed the Children to support teachers across our service territory,” said Kirby Nickolas, OG&E manager of brand, engagement and partnerships. “We can all remember our favorite teacher that fueled our curiosity and imagination. We are honored to give back to these educational heroes. When we provide resources and support for our teachers, we’re energizing life for today and tomorrow.”
Teachers are passionate about their students’ success, and many times reach into their own pockets to purchase the educational materials needed for their classroom. The average educator spends $750 per school year to provide students with the tools they need to thrive. Feed the Children has helped ease the financial burden by supplying classroom supplies and books at no cost to educators through the organization’s Teacher Store.
“Boomarang Diner is honored to be sponsoring the Feed the Children Teacher Store for the second year,” said Laura Danser, Boomarang Director of Marketing. “Our founder, Charles Degraffenreid, loved being involved in local community activities. Events like the Teacher Store help us honor Charles’ passion for serving our local community.”
Feed the Children believes education is the best way to help break the cycle of poverty, but without the proper tools for learning, students face overwhelming odds.
“We are always proud to serve Oklahoma’s teachers through our Teacher Store,” said Travis Arnold, president and CEO, Feed the Children. “With the help of our generous partners at OG&E and Boomarang Diner, we can provide teachers and students with the materials they need for classroom success.”
Feed the Children opened its Oklahoma City-based Teacher Store in 2012 to reach as many Pre-K through 12th grade students as possible. It provides resources and supplies to certified teachers across Oklahoma. Teachers from pre-approved schools are eligible to shop in the store for free once a month to restock their classroom with supplies and books throughout the year. In FY20, the Oklahoma City Teacher Store hosted nearly 5,500 teacher visits from districts across the state.
The Oklahoma City Teacher Store is one of five sites operated by Feed the Children. The nonprofit also hosts Teacher Stores in Chandler, Ariz..; La Vergne, Tenn..; Elkhart, Ind.; and Bethlehem, Penn. All Teacher Store locations offer free classroom materials and books to educators in eligible schools in their state. The Indiana location also serves the southwest portion of Michigan.
Visit Oklahoma Teacher Store, or the Teacher Store on Facebook to learn more about the 2021 shopping scheduled and to determine if your school is eligible to participate.
About OG&E
OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), is headquartered in Oklahoma City and is the parent company of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E), a regulated electric utility serving approximately 867,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. In addition, OGE holds 25.5 percent limited partner interest and 50 percent general partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, LP.
About Boomarang Diner
Boomarang Diner is a full-service, 1950s-style American restaurant chain specializing in freshly made hamburgers, chicken fried steak, chicken and breakfast served all day. There are currently 54 Boomarang Diner locations, all of which are located in Oklahoma