Teacher Store
The Teacher Store supports K-12 educators by providing free supplies and resources to benefit students and schools in our communities.
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ABOUT
Organization Background
The Teacher Store is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization imagined by Corda Credit Union. Our mission is to support K-12 educators by providing free supplies and resources to benefit students and schools in our communities. This is achieved through school visits and community events with our mobile shop and store located in Hiawatha. The Teacher Store relies on donations from local businesses and individuals, as well as grant funding to keep our wheels turning and shelves stocked. Originally established as a storefront in 2009, the Teacher Store transitioned to a mobile store in 2018. In the fall of 2024, the Teacher Store moved into a space in Hiawatha, offering educators a dedicated location to access supplies all year. This has enabled the Teacher Store to support more educators across various communities and ensure students have resources needed for year-round success.
Our Programs
The Teacher Store stocks supplies for local K-12 educators and their students, including items commonly purchased out-of-pocket by teachers. According to the National Education Association, over 90% of teachers nationwide spend their own money on classroom supplies without reimbursement, averaging between $500 and $900 annually. Supplies stocked by the Teacher Store include items such as pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, glue, folders, notebooks, paper, calculators, earbuds, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and youth clothing. The store distributes these supplies through organized events and school visits.
The Teacher Store hosts three community events open to K-12 educators, including our Winter Wellness Express in January, Educator Appreciation Celebration in May, and Back-to-School Kickoff in August. The first event provides educators with a bag of highly needed supplies over the winter months, such as tissues, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, and pencils. The other two events provide educators the opportunity to shop for essential school supplies, network with other teachers in the community, and be recognized and appreciated for their hard work. Following a recent event, an educator shared, “Thanks so much for doing these events. It’s great to feel appreciated! You guys also do such a great job! We are so often used to something super basic and you go all out!”
Another one of our program is school visits. Through our website, educators can request a mobile visit to their school or an in-store visit to our Teacher Store location in Hiawatha. During visits, educators pick out free supplies for their students and classrooms. Following a recent mobile visit, an educator shared, “It’s great to see the Teacher Store out and about in the community. Thanks for keeping things fresh and new, and for always stocking the truck with items we so badly need.”
Our newest program, After the Bell, is a mini-event series providing opportunities for educators to shop for essential supplies at the Teacher Store outside of community events and school visits. Following a recent mini-event, an educator shared, “Everyone is kind. There are great options and I always find things that support my students.” After the Bell takes place multiple times throughout the school year.
Who We Serve
The target population of the Teacher Store includes K-12 educators teaching in Linn County and the surrounding communities. In addition to providing supplies to teachers, we also serve personnel within the school which includes school counselors, school health professionals, and paraprofessionals. Our aim is not only to benefit educators, but also the students in their schools who rely on these supplies to be successful in their learning. This support extends to families of students who may not have the resources to provide school supplies throughout the year.
We’ve heard numerous stories of how free supplies from the Teacher Store have lightened the burden and provided much needed support to teachers and classrooms throughout the community:
“This is so great and we all feel so appreciated when we come to the Teacher Store events. The kids benefit so much from all the work you do to get supplies that we need. Thank you!” – Local High School Math Teacher
“Everyone was helpful and kind. The store was neat and organized. There was a good variety of supplies to pick from. It is great getting free supplies that we would usually have to pay for ourselves.” – Local Elementary Special Education Teacher
“It is nice to feel appreciated and to get supplies for the rooms that would otherwise be paid for with our own money.” – Local High School Art Teacher