Classroom Central

Classroom Central logo.

Classroom Central, [1], based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a free store for teachers who work in low-income schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. The organization's mission is to help students learn by collecting and distributing free school supplies. During the 2007-2008 academic year, Classroom Central served more than 80,000 students. Since opening in 2002, more than $12 million in free school supplies have been distributed to students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding school districts.

History

In early 2000, a team of business leaders from the Charlotte Chamber's Center City area Council set out to provide free supplies to the children of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. This team of community leaders conducted a feasibility study to gauge the level of need of students and teachers in the Charlotte community. The number of children in need of basic materials was staggering. The Charlotte Chamber, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and area businesses committed to this vision and the first steps were underway to create a "free store" for teachers.

In the spring of 2002, the Carolina Panther's Children's Charities foundation partnered with Classroom Central, providing a generous gift of $200,000 in seed money to start the free teacher's store. After many years of preparation, Classroom Central opened its doors on October 8, 2002, and currently serves more than 126 schools, 6,482 teachers, and 86,000 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding districts. In the six years that the organization has been in existence, more than $13 million in free school supplies has been distributed.