Jennifer Dandron | The Valdosta Daily TimesFirst year teacher Columbus Carter said Teachers’ Harvest is a blessing not only for him but also for his students. Carter is a fourth grade teacher at Pinevale Elementary.

VALDOSTA — Nearly 2,000 public school teachers across South Georgia registered for the annual Teachers’ Harvest hosted by Second Harvest of South Georgia. 

Teachers from any of the 30 counties served by Second Harvest can participate in the event that gives away free school supplies. 

Jamie Whigham, a teacher at Cross Creek Elementary in Thomas County, said she traveled to the Valdosta warehouse Monday morning to help ensure her students succeed. “It really helps out a lot,” she said. “We have a lot of low income families in our system. It helps to provide so parents don’t have to spend as much money.” 

All of the supplies were donated either directly or were purchased with monetary donations from businesses and individuals in the community, according to Eliza McCall, Chief Marketing Office for Second Harvest. 

McCall said the free school supply store helps provide some things teachers would have likely paid for out of their own pocket. 

“Teachers’ Harvest is designed to break the cycle of poverty,” she said. “We make sure teachers are equipped so schools have what they need to succeed so that one day they can be self-sufficient. Teachers pay so much out of pocket for their school supplies because school budgets are already stretched. We’re trying to help ease that burden on them.”

For recent university graduate and newly hired first-time teacher Columbus Carter, the event helped to establish his fourth grade classroom at Pinevale Elementary. 

“I’m thankful for the chance to get school supplies for our classrooms,” he said. “This is my first year, so this is a great experience. I’m fresh out of college so I don’t have the necessary funds since I haven’t gotten paid yet to buy some of these things. I’m just real blessed to have this opportunity to get supplies for my students.” 

While 2,000 registered for the event online, McCall anticipates even more teachers will take advantage of the week long harvest. 

Jennifer Dandron is a Reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1255.