Teachers at Greendale Elementary will start the new school year Monday with an assortment of school supplies to ensure their students will be ready to participate fully in all classroom activities.
Members of the Gifting Tree Foundation surprised the 29 teachers with more than $3,500 in paper, pencils, tissues, headphones for computers, hand sanitizer and other supplies that were neatly stacked or bagged by class in the school cafeteria.
The supply distribution is the Gifting Tree's first grant-funded project as a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization designed to assist individuals in need and to support local charities.
“Our board heard Greendale needed some things, so rather than supply things for students, which a lot of people do and … is excellent, we decided to supply the teachers so they wouldn't have to spend their money on some of the supplies,” said Danny Minolfo, a member of the Gifting Tree's board. “This is our first grant to be accepted, received and funded.”
Founded about a year and a half ago, the Gifting Tree is a foundation that fills the needs of people in the community, with a focus mainly on Aiken County, Minolfo said. All of the money the foundation raises goes back into the community.
“We don't have brick and mortar. We don't have employees. Our board funded our initial expenses,” Minolfo said. “The needs can apply to a project that requires funding. It could be air conditioning. It could be a house fire. In this case, it's a school.”
Minolfo's wife, Jennifer, who teaches fourth grade at Aiken Elementary and is a Gifting Tree board member, wrote the grant and bought the supplies.
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