Non-profit supports Louisiana teachers with more than $8,000 for classroom supplies
Baton Rouge, LA – November 9, 2016 – The AdoptAClassroom.org Louisiana Relief Fund raised more than $8,300 to help teachers rebuild their classrooms devastated by flood damage. Donations collected by the nonprofit were used to adopt more than 60 Louisiana classrooms located throughout 11 schools.
The Louisiana Relief Fund was created to help teachers rebuild their classrooms during the most crucial time of year. Twenty-two public school districts closed as a result of flooding, affecting 250,000 students. AdoptAClassroom.org registered teachers were left with damaged classrooms in need of supplies and materials.
As part of the AdoptAClassroom.org Louisiana Relief Fund, retail clothing store Lane Bryant adopted every teacher at Southside Elementary School in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Denham Springs schools, like Southside Elementary, were some of the schools most affected by flooding, many of them yet to reopen.
On average, teachers spend $600 a year of their own money buying supplies for their classroom and students. AdoptAClassroom.org empowers teachers with donated funds to purchase the classroom materials their students need most. When schools are impacted by natural disasters such as flooding, teachers often do not have a budget to replace costly classroom materials necessary for student success.
Denham Springs High School’s special education teacher Connie Thibodeaux lost everything in in her classroom due to the flood. All of her students have significant disabilities, so the proper supplies and a consistent learning environment are critical to their success. The flood took both away.
“The contents of my classroom are a total loss, and we still remain on another school’s campus,” said Thibodeaux. “My students require so many different items–from manipulatives to sensory items, fidgets, and specialized learning aids, but these things are now gone.”
According to a 2015 Grad Nation report, 90 percent of special education students would likely meet regular diploma requirements if they received the right supports. Without donations, Thibodeaux’s students might not receive all of the support they need this school year. After receiving funds through AdoptAClassroom.org, she can start purchasing some of the needed materials the flood took from them.
“When I received a donation to my classroom, I felt very touched,” said Thibodeaux. “Having a donation will allow me to be able to replace some of the items we lost, and the impact on my students will be immediate.”
To help teachers like Thibodeaux restock their damaged classrooms, visit the AdoptAClassroom.org Louisiana Relief Fund.
About Lane Bryant®
Lane Bryant® is the nation’s leading women’s specialty size apparel brand, providing stylish and high-quality fashion in sizes 14-28. The Lane Bryant collection includes a wide selection of career to fashion conscious apparel as well as accessories, footwear, hosiery and Cacique® intimate apparel. Lane Bryant® fashions are available nationwide at its 764 Lane Bryant stores, and online. Lane Bryant is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASNA). Please visit lanebryant.com and cacique.com for store locations and the latest fashion trend information.
About AdoptAClassroom.org
AdoptAClassroom.org empowers teachers by providing the classroom supplies and materials needed to help their students learn and succeed. As an award-winning 501(c)(3), AdoptAClassroom.org makes it easy for individual donors and corporate sponsors to donate funds to K-12 classrooms in public, private and charter schools throughout the U.S. On average, teachers spend $600 of their own money each year to equip their classrooms – 20% of teachers spend more than $1000 annually. Since 1998 AdoptAClassroom.org has raised more than $28 million and benefited more than 2 million students. AdoptAClassroom.org holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. For more information, or to adopt a classroom, please visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.
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