ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There are no cash registers at Pencils and Paper on Jay Street. This semester, some 1,000 teachers from 37 high poverty schools will shop for free school supplies.

Pencils and Paper is all about community: Individual donations, area businesses and volunteers are making it happen to stock these shelves here so teachers can shop for free school supplies.

"Every time there is a need something seems to happen and the need seems to be met. It has really been a community effort and the community has embraced us," said Howard Grossman, Pencils and Paper program coordinator.

Wegmans donated all of the store shelving, shopping carts and lots of materials that teachers can use in the classrooom. A grant from Excellus BCBS paid for hygiene products. Staples donated all kinds of items.

 

The reality is, many teachers spend anywhere from $300 to $500 out of their own money on school supplies. 

"You may have one or two students out of 20 that can bring supplies in," said Derinda McKinstry, RCSD School No. 7 teacher. "The rest on their whole supply list they may be able to bring in one or two items and it is just not enough with everything else they need. I mean food or school supplies. They need that food they need clothing, so what they supply here really-they allow us to take boxes of pencils — one for every child so we are able to supply a lot of that stuff on that supply list."

Any businesses interested in donating are encouraged to contact Pencils and Paper because as capacity grows, additional schools will be enrolled to shop.