One of the key foundations to a strong and healthy community is education. Supporting younger generations through teaching gifts them the ability to intelligently steer themselves towards not only a strong career, but also towards living well.

Education contributes to a flourishing community, but there are many challenges involved. For teachers, that challenge comes in the form of having enough school supplies in their classrooms to effectively teach. Budgets are tight and that means that teachers are often lacking in the supplies they need. For many teachers who still want to successfully engage their students, that means looking for other ways to get these supplies.

Many teachers reach into their own pockets to fund the supplies they need and, according to a 2018 survey and study published by SheerID and Agile Education Marketing, the amount of teachers willing to do so is staggeringly high. According to the study, “A large majority (71%) of teachers spent over $500 on their classroom, with some reporting having spent an astounding $7,000 during the course of the year.”

With numbers like these, our teachers need all the help they can get. That is one of the reasons why several Astra Bank branches decided to host school supply drives for the community.

“The beginning of school can be stressful enough for children and parents without having to worry about getting all the supplies that are needed,” said Heather Schmitt, who organized the school supply drive for Abilene.

Deb Bratton, who worked with faculty and staff of USD 489 and Holy Family Elementary to set up a Teacher’s Wish Tree in Hays, wanted to assist area teachers, stating, “Many teachers provide items they purchase out of their own monies. We are always wanting to help the children, our future leaders. What better way to help then to help the ones teaching them.”

Pictured is Deb Bratton in Hays with the Teacher Wish Tree

Pictured is the Supply Drive in Scandia

Pictured is the Supply Drive in Abilene

Our Abilene branch even held a “Stuff the Duk” event on Aug. 2nd to generate more supplies for teachers. In lieu of a school bus, the bank utilized a 1945 DUKW (“Duck”) military vehicle, manufactured to excel at approaching and crossing beaches. Customers could bring their supplies to the boat and Astra Bank employees would help them load it up.

Pictured is Heather Schmitt in the Duk Boat, braving the rainy weather

Grateful Teachers

Of course, the best part of the supply drive is actually delivering the supplies to the teachers. Our area teachers were extremely thankful for the generosity of the community and many sent Thank You cards expressing their gratitude.

Pictured is Chapman’s miniature supply-filled bus ready for delivery.

Pictured is Lance Tilton, dropping Chapman’s supplies off.

Pictured is Bryan Vonfeldt and Mitchell Sahlfeld of Astra Bank with Rachel Wentling of Holy Family Elementary in Hays

Pictured is Bryan Vonfeldt of Astra Bank and Mandy Meagher of Wilson Elementary in Hays

Schmitt heard much of the encouraging reaction from the community, saying, “We had lots of positive feedback, from customers thinking it was a great idea and when we dropped off supplies to each school everyone was so thankful.”

It is this thankfulness that makes it worth it to help these schools, teachers, and parents by supplying some of the things they are unable to get otherwise. For Melissa Jordan, Personal Banker in Chapman, that was a special part of the supply drive, explaining, “My favorite part was knowing that (even though our school district was lucky enough to supply the necessities for the children enrolled) Astra Bank was able to assist in furnishing some of the extras that some parents may not have been able to provide—to ensure that each child is prepared to succeed for the school year.”

Thanking the Community

While we at Astra Bank get to hear the thanks from teachers first-hand, the real “thank you” goes to those in the community that took the time out of their day to help donate these supplies to the schools. We are extremely grateful for the kindness you’ve displayed and are honored to be able to work for the schools through you.

“In sponsoring the event we are working towards community involvement as well as meeting the needs of the children from our community and the individuals who are teaching them,” said Bratton. This was very much a community effort, and getting behind our teachers is something we can all agree on.

We hope we can help provide even more for these schools in the years to come.