What is the Teacher Resource Center?
The Teacher Resource Center (formerly Kids In Need) is a program that supplies teachers in economically challenged school districts with classroom materials. The program is an international partnership between World Vision and the School and Home Office Products Association (SHOPA) Foundation. The Chicago Teacher Resource center is offered through The Storehouse.

How does it work?
SHOPA member organizations donate extra materials, which are then distributed to Teacher Resource Center sites across the country. Individual sites, including the Teacher Resource Center of World Vision Chicago, work with teachers from select public schools to provide materials where they are most needed.

Facts

• Teacher Resource Center supplies are available to select Chicago public schools that have 70 percent or more of their students are eligible for the free school lunch program. In these schools, limited budgets often leave teachers and students without the basic resources needed to further their education. Parents are unable to provide the resources, so teachers must fund many purchases out of their own pockets. In schools that are members of the Teacher Resource Center, teachers have access to quality school products at no cost.
• Last year, the Teacher Resource Center gave away nearly 100,000 items, benefiting thousands of students in 26 Chicago urban schools.
• World Vision's Teacher Resource Center program in Chicago opened its doors in 1997 with a “Back to School” celebration for students and teachers.
• The Teacher Resource Center supplies received each year, totaling nearly $600,000, are stored in 10,000 sq. foot warehouse space on Chicago’s west side.
• More than 1,700 companies from around the country contribute products to the Teacher Resource Center annually. These products are divided between six Teacher Resource Center sites nationally.
• Operational costs of Teacher Resource Center are provided through individual donations, grants and World Vision, the partnering organization.
• World Vision's Teacher Resource Center program in Chicago recently received a grant from the Empowerment Zone to fund a part-time adult employee and three youth interns to staff the Teacher Resource Center warehouse.
• World Vision's Teacher Resource Center program in Chicago has plans to expand, with a goal of helping 12 new schools each fiscal year. Currently, 56 schools are on the list; more schools will be added as members as funding is made available.
• Products available at the Teacher Resource Center warehouse include everything from three-ring binders to globes. Teachers have access to notebooks, pens and pencils, reward prizes, markers, and office supplies.
• Teacher Resource Center materials are distributed in three ways: 1) To individual teachers who visit the Teacher Resource Center warehouse to “shop;” 2) On designated “shopping” days for the teachers of specific schools; 3) Through bulk distribution to qualifying schools.