VALDOSTA, Ga. — Second Harvest of South Georgia observed its biggest Teacher’s Harvest kickoff yet with 2,100 registered educators eager to receive free school supplies.

Opening day was Wednesday at the Second Harvest of South Georgia main building. Eliza McCall, chief marketing officer, said there were teachers lined up outside the building before 5 a.m.

Teachers, guidance counselors, media specialists and other school employees come from as far as two-and-a-half hours away in a 30-county area to receive goods such as folders, pencils and even office chairs.

All of the donated items, which come from the Kids in Need Foundation donors, are free.

“This event may be warm and fuzzy, but it’s also a necessity,” McCall said.

She said the event is needed for two reasons: much of the families in the service area cannot afford their children’s school supplies; neither can the teachers, who are mostly in school districts with tight budgets.

McCall said problems include high rates of food insecurity and persistent and pervasive poverty, which is when families and individuals are below the poverty line during a long period of time.

Despite this, teachers come in to the event grateful and leave ready to get the school year started.

“(The teachers) work so hard during the school year and take care of these kids,” McCall said. “They give of themselves literally out of their own pocketbook to help cover these expenses, so they’re happy to be here.”

Berrien County teachers and married couple Ben and Alicia Bergeron were in attendance, getting free pencils, markers and other smaller items.

An experienced art teacher, this isn’t Alicia’s first year rummaging through the Teacher’s Harvest bins, though this is her first time at the kickoff event.

“It’s really awesome that we have something like this because it really helps us save money,” said Alicia Bergeron, who teaches at Berrien Elementary School.

For her husband, it’s Ben Bergeron’s first year teaching science at Berrien Middle School. It’s also his first year paying for his classroom supplies.

“When you’re first starting out as a teacher, you have so much stuff that you have to get, but you’re not getting a paycheck yet,” he said. “It’s kind of tough to get started, so this is actually pretty awesome.”

Public school teachers, guidance counselors and media specialists that work in the Teacher’s Harvest service area are eligible to participate in the event. Those working at private schools, daycare, preschools, Headstart programs and homeschool groups are ineligible.

The Teacher’s Harvest Kickoff’s last day is Tuesday, July 31. Walk-ins are welcome.

If educators can’t make it to the event, McCall said Teacher’s Harvest is open 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturday dates will be held once a month. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.