WEYBURN – As students head back to school soon, many local classrooms are being stocked with supplies not by the school division, but by the generosity of the community, thanks to an initiative by the Weyburn Oil Women Association Inc. (WOW).
The program connects community donors with the Amazon Wishlists of more than 50 local teachers, a record number for the group.
“This is our biggest year with over 50 teachers sending in their Amazon Wishlists,” said Janessa Walliser WOW treasurer.
The initiative aims to address the significant and often unpredicatable out-of-pocket expenses educators face annually to equip their classrooms.
“These numbers can vary significantly,” said Walliser. “If you are a recent graduate or moving grades, this number can be quite high. Teachers continue to invest deeply in their classrooms, covering costs to everything from basic supplies to learning aids and supplemental materials.”
Walliser said the costs include day-to-day necessities like pencils, construction paper, and dry erase markers that aren’t always fully provided by schools. But the costs also extend to supplementary items.
“Then there are also enrichment items that help take learning to the next level - like flexible seating, educational games and books, and art materials. These items seem to make the classroom more engaging, inclusive and fun for the students.”
The drive to support teachers was started with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We started this initiative five years ago in the wake of COVID, when teachers were faced with such uncertainty - navigating stress and constantly changing expectations,” said Walliser. “We wanted to lighten the load a bit, and show appreciation. Give them something small to smile about.”
The process for community members to help is simple. Donors can browse a teacher’s list and purchase an item directly from Amazon, or even clear an entire list. For those who prefer, monetary donations are also accepted and WOW can make the purchase.
“We encourage this,” said Walliser, “because when we support our teachers, we support our students and everyone benefits.”
For more information contact WOW at [email protected].
The Weyburn Oilwomen Association Inc. is a charitable organization that raises funds and volunteers for various community groups, charities and organizations.
For the wish list go here.
