Help local teachers get school supplies for their students

CINCINNATI - Teachers nowadays do a lot more than just give of their time and energy. They also spend a lot of their own money to make sure their students get the best education possible. However, a local organization is trying to ease the burden for educators, and Tri-Staters are asked to help out, as well.

Crayons To Computers is a free store for teachers. Many schools in the Tri-State have children who cannot afford school supplies and instead of teachers spending money out of pocket, they can go to this Paddock Hills store to shop for free.

The program survives off of individual and corporate donations. It has been around since 1997, and is located on Tennessee Avenue (not too far from the Norwood Lateral).

Crayons To Computers has everything from pencils and notebooks to arts and crafts, and even computers and printers. Of course, there is a limit to how much teachers can get when hundreds of them hit the store on August 1.

The program has drop-off displays at several local stores and businesses for donations, along with the store itself.

"You can always donate. We always need supplies. We look for pencils and glue and crayons all year, and if folks would like to make a financial contribution, they can go to our website http://www.crayons2computers.org/ ," said Heather Egan, the development director at Crayons To Computers.

"We have to raise about a million dollars every year in order to keep this place going, but from that million dollars we expect to give away over $11.5 million worth of supplies to teachers all around Greater Cincinnati. We serve 100,000 kids every year so 100,000 kids are benefitting from Crayons To Computers."

Schools are picked based on poverty level, and they cover the entire Tri-State, including Northern Kentucky and parts of Indiana.