All stocked up – Corvallis Gazette

Area educators participate in Love INC’s ninth annual
event

On Friday morning, the cafeteria at Linus Pauling Middle School
resembled an office supply store.

Teachers from Corvallis and Philomath browsed through aisles of
tables piled high with school supplies.

Items ranging from pencils to student-sized chairs were up for
grabs during Love INC of Benton County’s ninth annual supply
giveaway.

The event aims to provide teachers with supplies for the upcoming
school year. Due to shrinking budgets, many teachers are spending
more of their own money to make sure their classrooms are stocked
with supplies.

And the supply giveaway was a hit for the 50 or so first-time
teachers who got to “shop” for supplies. They got first dibs at
9:15 a.m., before their longer-tenured colleagues were allowed to
shop at 10 a.m.

“I hadn’t bought any supplies yet because my mentor said to wait
and see how today went,” said Kristina Stone, who is entering her
first year as a health teacher at Crescent Valley High School. “I
might not have to now. I’ve got a ton of stuff and we’re not even
halfway done.”

In tow was Linus Pauling seventh-grader Greg Gambatese, who was
helping carry Stone’s supplies. He was one of several students who
volunteered to help teachers with their shopping duties. The
students wore yellow tags that read “BOB,” which stands for “Beast
of Burden.”

Greg also provided Stone with input on what supplies her students
might be more apt to use during the school year — while struggling
to carry Stone’s increasing load of supplies.

“It’s starting to get heavy,” he said, shifting the bag around in
his arms.

Wilma Van Schelven, executive director of Love INC, said the supply
giveaway is a way for the community to show that it cares and
supports its teachers. In addition to receiving free supplies,
participants also were treated to breakfast.

Love INC, a Corvallis nonprofit organization, relies on donations
from local churches, businesses and community members to organize
the event, which has grown since it was first held in 2002.

“The first year it was held at the chamber of commerce,” Van
Schelven said. “Twelve teachers showed up. So we’ve definitely
grown a lot.”

Last year’s giveaway attracted 370 teachers and ended up giving
away some some $117,000 worth of supplies. Van Schelven said she
expected about 400 teachers to participate this year. Philomath
teachers were unable to join the event last year because classes
there already had started.

Dennis Foster, a resource room teacher at Cheldelin Middle School,
said he was enjoying his first supply giveaway event. He spent a
lot of time teasing his student helper, CHS sophomore Nick
Gambatese, about how Nick needed to work harder – even though Nick
already was hauling many bags of supplies. Nick is Greg’s older
brother.

“It’s great that they do this for us,” Foster said. “It’s a big
help and means a lot because it shows that they appreciate
us.”

Raju Woodward can be contacted at 758-9526 or
raju.woodward@lee.net.