The end of the year is here! Now is the time to get your room ready for those summer deep-cleans and also prep for next year, or maybe you're retiring and now you have years of supplies collected. It's the perfect time to go through your class supplies and clean out those items that maybe haven't been used in a while (even though we know you might use them next year 😉). Here are some ideas of what to do with any unwanted items.
Sharing is caring
One man's trash- we all know the saying. Your neighbor down the hall might love that book set you are thinking about throwing away. Go ahead and lay out your unwanted items on a table in your room and let your teammates know to come take a look! Have a grade-level "yard-sale". This is also a great way to organize everything unwanted into one designated spot. Have things left over after everyone has picked through? Check out our next suggestion!
List them on Facebook
Whether it's a mom tackling homeschooling or a new graduate getting ready to begin teaching in their own classroom next year, you never know who is looking for what on Facebook Marketplace. Listing items on Facebook allows you to reach a larger audience without having to do much effort. Just be sure to meet the buyer in a public place and never give out personal information or phone numbers over the app.
Donate
Still have some things left over? Donating is a great option for the remaining, usable items. Organizations like Give a Kid a Chance takes gently used school supplies such as paper, pencils, binders, etc. Must Ministries accepts clothing (how does your lost and found bin look?) and books. You can also reach out to your local Senior Center, Daycares, or churches to see if they could use any supplies.
Recycle
Terracyle has boxes specifically for pens, pencils, and markers. All you have to do is go onto their site, pick out the box that fits your needs, and load it up! They provide the pre-paid shipping label, and they'll take care of the rest. They also have a "all-in-one" box that accepts everything from books and magazines, to art supplies and fabrics. Don't feel like buying a box? They also have free recycling programs! Just go online, print a free shipping label, and they'll do the rest!Don't forget, Cherokee County also has a Recycling Center that is free to Cherokee County Residents!