Teachers in San Diego’s South Bay will be able to get free school supplies for their classrooms thanks to a new supply pantry in Chula Vista that just opened Thursday morning.
Most schools in the South Bay are already in session but as the year goes on teachers will need replacements.
Now there’s a place to stock up for free!
The L Street Self Storage facility in Chula Vista has converted two units into a new teacher supply pantry. It has everything from art supplies to cleaning supplies and everything in between.
The goal of the pantry is to ease the financial burden many teachers face when purchasing classroom supplies with their own money.
While Thursday marked the official launch, organizers are hosting their “Stock the Pantry” drive through the end of August in hopes to provide this teacher resource for the whole school year and beyond.
The pantry is asking the community for donations including essentials like pencils and folders, creativity supplies, instructional materials and hygiene items.
Tiffany Elementary Special Education Teacher Mrs. Lani said this pantry will bring much-needed relief.
“This honestly blows my mind because I’ve never heard of something like this. I think as teachers we’re always looking for resources. My husband can attest that I spend a lot of money of my own for my students because I don’t want to ask parents and I don’t want students to be without,” Lani said.
Anyone who wants to donate can come down to L Street Self Storage in Chula Vista and drop off supplies every day except Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.