According to multiple surveys, over 90% of teachers pay out of pocket for school supplies. Adelante Bargain Square employee Maria Quintana, as well as other Bargain Square employees and clients, decided to do their part to solve this problem. Maria applied for a Mike Kivitz Legacy Innovation Fund grant early last year, and the Valencia County thrift store team used the money to put together care packages of school supplies for local teachers.
About the Mike Kivitz Legacy Innovation Fund
Since 2022, Adelante has been awarding Mike Kivitz Legacy Innovation Fund grants to up-and-coming leaders at Adelante. Adelante’s former CEO Mike Kivitz is the namesake of this fund. Employees and clients can apply for funding of up to $2000. The projects selected are innovative and address needs in our community. Grant recipients also gain leadership skills such as organization, budgeting, time management, delegation, and collaborating with community partners. This year, Maria, an employee at Bargain Square, saw the need for school supplies and took the opportunity to help teachers in Valencia County.
Maria’s Care Packages: From the Grant to Helping Local Teachers
First, Maria applied for a grant, which included a project plan and budget. Next, the Innovation Grant committee at Adelante awarded the grant and assigned her a mentor. Then Maria, with the help of her manager Jessica, strategized when school supplies would go on sale to get the most product for the best value. Throughout the year, they purchased supplies, and staff and clients at Bargain Square helped put the care packages together. All in all, Bargain Square employees and clients donated 20 care packages for local teachers.
In November, Maria, members of the Bargain Square team, and Adelante clients delivered these packages. Each package included a storage containers full of school supplies for the teachers. They drove all across Valencia County, stopping by elementary, middle, and high schools along the way. Care packages included markers, notebooks, pencils, disinfectant wipes, and other supplies for the classroom. Teachers also received a thank you card for their hard work, signed by Adelante staff and clients. It was overall a wonderful way to thank teachers for the impact they make on local children and youth.
Maria noted that these care packages were a welcome surprise for some of the teachers. “Some of the schools kept it a secret from the teachers, so when they came out, they didn’t know what was going on, and they were pretty surprised and very thankful,” said Maria.
Helping Adelante Clients Make a Difference in the Community
In addition to helping local teachers and students this project provided an opportunity for Adelante clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities to give back to the community. “This project was close to all of our hearts,” said Bargain Square Manager Jessica. “Either we know someone who is a teacher, or we have family that are teachers.” Jessica also knows that many people in Valencia County know our associates (or employees with disabilities), and therefore felt it was a great way to support them by helping them participate in this project.
Bargain Square has been repeatedly recognized for years at Valencia County’s best thrift store. It is great people like Maria, and the spirit of community, that helps make Bargain Square a wonderful place to work, donate, and shop. This grant-funded service project is just one more demonstration of Bargain Square’s commitment to Valencia County.