A couple weeks ago we posted about our redditgifts for the teachers campaign, and almost 10,000 teachers have signed up to receive much-needed supplies for their classroom. Unfortunately, we have a HUGE gap between the number of teachers and donors signed up—2,338, to be exact. We need your help!!

Did you know that teachers in the US spend on average $485 of their own money each year on school supplies? Dwindling supply budgets, minimal or no raises, and low-income student demographics who aren’t able to provide any supplies for themselves mean teachers are often left emptying their own pockets to try to fill the gaps in the classroom.

Many teachers who signed up this year told us very similar stories:

“89% of our students are on free and reduced lunch”; “Sometimes the only meal they get is at school.”

"They come to school dirty, in dirty clothes, in need of a haircut, and without the proper clothing for the winter weather."

“I'm a science teacher at a low-income urban school where the majority of students are impoverished. Some of our students are homeless. They have a difficult time obtaining the supplies needed to start school on the right foot: notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, glue, so forth. . . . I find myself purchasing many of these items out-of-pocket. However, I teach about 150 students and cannot provide for all of them.”

"I don't need an iPad, calculator or fancy tech—just looseleaf paper. It would mean so much."

And unfortunately, the schools don’t have the funds to help out. Teachers are given budgets of $25, $50, $100—and sometimes nothing—to provide all the supplies they need for their classroom and their students for the entire year. Some teachers told us they don’t even have any books or curriculum, with one explaining:

“I still don't have textbooks for my 6th graders, who are focusing on global history (Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Early Humans, etc.). I would love a low-level type of textbook for those kids, even if I only have one to make copies from.”

THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

We have 9,522 teachers in need, but unfortunately we don’t have anywhere near enough people signed up to donate to them—we still need over 2,000 people to sign up to give! Don’t have much to give? Even the littlest bit helps! More than anything else, teachers say they really, really need pencils: “Seriously, we wear out pencils like reddit wears out memes.” Another teacher told us:

“All students should feel safe in their classroom and should not have to worry about getting in trouble because they don't have a pencil. Many of our students don't have great home lives and get in trouble for silly things at home. They shouldn't have to feel that way at school either. This year I want to make sure every kid has a pencil, whenever they need one.”

PLEASE, sign up to donate to a teacher in need and make a difference in the education of students everywhere.

(Already signed up? Thank you!! You can sign up to give to additional teachers here if you’re willing and able.)

P.S. Need some additional motivation? Read these great stories from redditors of teachers who have made a difference in their lives.

P.P.S. Need even more motivation? If we make it to 7,000 signups by the end of the day, there will be lots of amazing prizes to be had.