Shop owner helps teachers get ready for school

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Mahoning Valley proved its generosity to a new campaign that helped teachers get ready for school.

Ivory & Birch owner Deloran Thompson started “Clear the List.” Local teachers shared their needs and people could donate money or buy the supplies and have them shipped.

Thompson said Friday the campaign was able to get something on the list of 308 teachers. It turned out to have a bigger impact than she imagined. And it started just by sharing the need and watching the valley respond.

“And it wasn’t like a what are you doing with the money? But like, oh, teachers need help. Here you go. And it was just really, really incredible. And the reach of people. It was individuals donating $5, it was companies donating $5,000 it was just everything in between. And really, when that all came together, it made such a huge difference that it was really heartwarming to see,” Thompson said.

Thompson shared that one teacher expressed a need for swimming supplies for teaching swimming to special needs high schoolers. That teacher had been in the hospital for a week before school started and had nothing. Clear the List made a big difference.

Thompson plans to do it again next year.

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