I received gift cards for SONIC and DonorsChoose in exchange for sharing this information. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.
Can you imagine a world without teachers? I can’t. Teachers are faced with the challenge of doing what they can to shape the future of students, and therefore by extension communities and the country. I have known more than a few teachers in my life. My mom was a public school teacher for more than 35 years. She gave a lot of her time and energy to those kids because she loved teaching. I didn’t realize back then that teachers often spend a lot of their own money to ensure that students have supplies that they really need to be successful.
One recent statistic says that every year, teachers spend about $500 of their own money on basic school supplies to help improve classroom experiences for their students. Kids shouldn’t have to do without essentials that they need to learn. Teachers don’t make millions and shouldn’t have to spend a portion of what hard-earned money they do make in order for kids to learn. SONIC Drive-In recognized the problem and took steps to make a difference and work towards solving it.
In 2009 SONIC launched Limeades for Learning® in partnership with DonorsChoose.org. Limeades for Learning is a national award-winning initiative to support U.S. public school teachers in local communities. Since the launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $9.5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today’s youth. With the help and support of fans like you and I, SONIC’s total contribution to local public school classrooms will exceed $20 million by the year 2021.
There’s still time in 2018 to make a difference. Over the next few months there are three periods in which SONIC makes $1 million donations to public schools:
- During the Fall Voting Campaign, which typically runs from late September through October
- Throughout the months of January through April during a series of surprise funding events in cities across the country – as an example, today SONIC funded 75 teacher projects from across the country in honor of National Handwriting Day
- Throughout the month of May during #ThanksTeach, a social media campaign encouraging consumers to thank their favorite teachers during Teacher Appreciation Month
It’s easy for public school teachers to submit a project. To do this the teacher will need to log into DonorsChoose.org and launch a campaign. They’ll need to provide some basic information about the campaign, and notate that they’re a SONIC Teacher. From September 25 to October 22 SONIC funds projects with the top votes. As you can see participation from folks like you and I can easily make a difference, not only through our donations but through our votes!
The DonorsChoose platform is easy to use. You can search for teacher projects that include keywords that have meaning to you or you could choose projects at a school in your area or an area that has a place in your heart. Those are just two of the ways you can find projects to donate to.
Some of the teacher projects currently available that spoke to me are:
Learning Language Through Books – Books and speech therapy materials related to the readings.
Social Skills For Success – Books and activities to learn and practice social skills and rules.
Botley: Special Needs in the 21st Century – Botley Coding Robot Kits to learn STEM and coding skills.
I really appreciated the ability to search through projects to see which projects resonated with me, which projects needed a little more help, and which projects were relatively near me. I love knowing that by going to SONIC Drive-In for some banging ribs or a tasty shake that I’m helping them help teachers, who in turn help our children. So you can see how SONIC’s Limeades For Learning benefits everyone.
For more information on SONIC’s Limeades for Learning program visit www.LimeadesforLearning.com.
Do you know any teachers that spend money out of pocket to help their students?
WIN IT!
ONE (1) winners will receive a $200 DonorsChoose gift card and A $50 SONIC gift card of their own so they can get involved in the Limeades for Learning donation fun!
HOW TO ENTER.
Enter using the Giveaway Tools widget below. The winner will be selected by the Giveaway Tools widget. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that you must complete the mandatory required entry, and that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. No PO Boxes. Good luck to everyone!
My cousin is a teacher who spends her own money on supplies.
Schools simply do not cover all that a child needs.
Many of my sons teachers have spent their own money of classroom needs.
I’ve had really awesome teachers in my time. This is such a great cause. And nice giveaway!
I love Sonic! This makes me love them even more. Sharing with my teacher friends – thank you!
Another reason to love sonic! I love this cause and I will for sure be supporting it as much as possible!
This sounds like such a great initiative! Teachers shouldn’t have to spend money out of pocket to get the resources their students need.
I really love that Sonic does this. I haven’t been to a Sonic before, but so many of my friends have raved about Sonic and I love their commercials. I really enjoying seeing brands give back and help our next generation of adults.
I am a special education teacher and every year we spend more and more out of our own pockets. We do it because we care about the kids’ education but also definitely appreciate assistance in any way we can get it!
That’s an awesome initiative. Teachers are some of the most forgotten about professionals. They don’t have to teach, they choose to teach and I applaud that. Good on Sonic for taking a great step
My sons teacher does
Both my son’s had the same kindergarten and she spent money on craft supplies, making personal scrapbooks for each child, and thank you gifts for volunteers.
I know there are several teachers in my sons school who purchase items for their classroom out of pocket.
I teach middle school, so I did know teachers spend out of pocket. You have to really put a check on it and try to be creative because the spending can get out of hand. I love that there are programs out there to help.
This is such a great initiative from Sonic! I am all for brands that help in our childrens education!
If we only had a Sonic near us, I’d be there everyday. Not only to enjoy good food, but to also help them help our teachers. That is such an admirable act. I hope more businesses would follow suit.
Sonic is a big hangout spot for students in my community’s I like that they are partnering with teachers to help the better educate students.
YES. For 35 years in the ps system, I did as did most others.
Yes, some do.
yes I do know a teacher that had to pay out of pocket
Yes! I think a majority of teachers spend money out of their own pockets to buy supplies for their classrooms. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway! What a great help for a teacher this will be!
Yes, me! 🙂
I am a second grade teacher who loves spending money on my students, but I really do have to be careful not to spend too much.
Yes, they surely do.
I am a teacher of elementary children with special needs in a multi-age classroom setting. Yes. I, along with my coworkers, spend hundreds (if not more) out of pocket each year to ensure that our students needs are being met. We often do it without thinking because we know that we are supporting the learning needs of our classroom.
Yes including myself!
I am a teacher and yes, I spend money on my classroom and students because I want to make their fifth grade year special and memorable before they leave me for the adventure of middle school!?
Every teacher that I know spend their own money on supplies.
Yes! I know a lot of teachers have paid out of pocket and so have I!
I know many teachers who purchase things out of their own pockets!
Thanks for this awesome giveaway! Teachers are always looking for ways to help our students!
I sure do! Many!
Those are my students for the botley project! Thanks for showcasing us!
I have been teaching for 10 years and I know that I always spend more than $500 per year on my own class. I do this because I love my students and want them to have the best, because I believe they deserve it. Many other teachers at my school spend just as much on their supplies.
Yes, all my teacher colleagues pay for materials out of pocket.
I pay out at least $500 every year, maybe more. It’s all for the kids though!
I spend my own money on my fourth-grade class, and my colleagues do also. I love Donors Choose as a way to purchase materials that I cannot afford and that are not in our school’s limited budget.
Yes I know teachers who put out their own money.