Dozens of Twin Cities school teachers were lined up Monday morning to get their first crack at picking up affordable school supplies at the new Kids in Need Foundation service center.
After a few brief remarks, Corey Gordon, the non-profit’s CEO, cut the red ribbon on the expanded service.
In addition to a shopping center complete with stocked shelves and cashiers, a new warehouse that’s more than twice the size of their old site in Roseville.
The new place has nearly 20,000 square feet of office space and a giant warehouse that’s 55,000 square feet.
The lease for the new property was signed this past spring and workers put in long hours to get things ready to kick off the new school year.
“So my students have what they need, they don’t have to worry about what they do not have,” said 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Michael Houston, who’s a math department head at Harding High School on St. Pau’s east side.
He said he and ten colleagues have to share what funds they are gifted from the school district.
“Kids in Need is actually delivering on that access,” said Houston. “I truly believe access is the foundation of equity.”
Among the more popular items are the free backpacks that can be given to individual students or entire classrooms.
The best part about it; the backpacks are chock-full of school supplies.
The new facility allows Kids in Need Foundation to enhance its mission by offering a resource center where teachers can access donated school supplies at little or no cost.
The non-profit marked its 30th anniversary with the grand opening.