United Way helping teachers who buy their own supplies. They've partnered with 11 schools.

FALL RIVER — With only a few days left before teachers and students return to classrooms, the United Way of Greater Fall River has connected 11 local schools with sponsors to make sure teachers have what they need without dipping into their own pockets.

This is the sixth year the United Way has promoted its Teachers' Closet initiative, raising money to help schools be stocked up with staples. In this year, the group tweaked the program to pair up a local school with a corporate sponsor to build a one-on-one relationship.

“Teachers are very giving and loving people, and when a kid is in need they take from their pocket and they give to the kid," said UWGFR Executive Director Kim Smith. “They do whatever it takes to make sure the kids have whatever they need.”

A brand-new old building: Westall reopening as an elementary school. The new principal is returning to Fall River.

Teachers at 11 schools can get everything from free pencils to socks

Patty Armstrong of the United Way said the group set its sights on adopting eight local schools — two from Fall River and six from towns in the group’s service area. They were chosen based on data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to see which schools in each community were most in need, along with help from local school leadership.

Thanks to an abundance of donations, the group exceeded its goal and created partnerships with 11 schools.

Though other nonprofits have held drives to fill backpacks with supplies for kids, “We’re not one to duplicate effort,” Smith said. “We’re all about convening and collaborating.”

Each school has its own corporate sponsor chipping in $1,000 to fill the gap between what the school system already supplies and what teachers and kids need.

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"Grant or sponsorship funding that we receive beyond what was already pledged will get used to replenish items in the different Teachers' Closets throughout the year to ensure this initiative is a sustainable one," said Janine Pohorely of the United Way.

The Teachers' Closet isn’t necessarily a literal closet — each school fills out an online wish list of items that can be bought as needs arise. But a display at the United Way’s Bedford Street offices showed the wide variety of possibilities and needs, the sort of items that teachers frequently need on hand. These supplies often run out quickly or aren't available from their own school supply closets, leading them to buy them themselves.

On its shelves were the usual pencils and notebooks, but also paper towels, cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer, flash cards, sensory items, granola bars — even fresh socks for needy kids.

Westport Superintendent Thomas Aubin noted that, even in his town, teachers see their share of poverty. Smith said she knows teachers are “providing a lot more than education.”

Which schools are participating, and who's sponsoring them?

Partnered up for the school year are the following:

• Freetown Elementary School and K.R. Rezendes Inc.

• Westall Elementary School, Fall River, and Corporate Image Apparel Inc.

• Resiliency Preparatory Academy, Fall River, and First Congregational Church

• South Elementary School, Somerset, and Webster Bank

• Gardner Elementary School, Swansea, and St. Anne’s Credit Union

• Macomber Elementary School, Westport, and Lafrance Hospitality

• Westport Elementary School and BankFive

• WIlbur & McMahon Schools, Little Compton, and the United Way of Greater Fall River

• Fort Barton Elementary School, Tiverton, and Klear Vu Corp.

• Letourneau Elementary School, Fall River, and BayCoast Bank

• Atlantis Charter lower school, Fall River, and Gold Medal Bakery

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: United Way Teachers' Closet program links sponsors, local schools