Hayward’s Hands gives teachers school supplies

Hayward’s Hands is an organization founded by the late Tish Hayward and her son, Perry High School graduate and NFL star, Casey Hayward. The company, whose mission is to pray, teach, encourage, give, help and inspire people of all ages to make their dreams come true, regularly gives back to the Perry community.

On July 16, members of Hayward’s Hands teamed up with Walmart to provide a “Back-to-School Shopping Experience” for first-year educators who currently teach in Perry, Georgia. A whopping 94% of American public school teachers reported paying for school supplies out of their own pocket in the 2014-15 school year, according to a Department of Education survey. Those teachers spent an average of $479 each in the process. But if that seems like a lot of money, consider this. During the 2019-2020 school year, teachers spent an average of $745 on school supplies! Most teachers spend their own money on distance learning materials as well. On average, teachers spent $252 this spring, and 45% of teachers said their spending has increased since distance learning began. Most teachers buy school supplies because most students and their families can’t afford them. It may seem easy to get, but some students can’t afford even the smallest of items such as pencils, pens, paper, etc.

Ashley Green is the director of operations for Hayward’s Hands. Green says that every year, Casey Hayward and Hayward’s Hands seek to give back to the community to assist with back to school needs. This year, all the Title I schools are receiving school supplies from the Cares Act.

“With the money we would have used on the school supplies, we decided to give it to the teachers, so they can get direct supplies for their classroom and students,” Green explained. As a former educator, Green knows first hand what it’s like to spend hundreds of dollars, out of pocket on supplies. “I think this will benefit students because the teachers were very intentional about the items they selected; items that the teachers can use to make all their student feel comfortable.”

Green believes this will help future educators to simply know that there are support systems out in the community, such as Hayward Hands. She mentioned also that they also recently sponsored an event where they reimbursed teachers for monies already spent. The educators brought their receipts, and in return, they got their money back.

Kelsea Wilkins was one of the instructors who were a part of this program for first-year teachers. She is a special education English teacher for ninth and tenth graders. Wilkins has been in the education profession for seven years, and she stated that her admin at Perry High School informed her of this opportunity and she proudly took advantage of it.

“This will benefit me and future teachers because it’s so much that teachers do out of pocket that goes unnoticed sometimes,” Wilkins said. “Being able to get what we need throughout the school year is great, because sometimes we can’t afford to purchase it during the actual school season.”

Wilkins expressed that she sees her students as her own kids. She said that she has witnessed some kids not having the basic accessories they need to get by. Some students have asked her for more than just a pencil; some have asked her for deodorant, Band Aids, etc.

“I am ever grateful for this program, and I hope it makes a difference in a child’s life like it has done in mine,” said Wilkins.

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