Each day we come across inspiring people and organizations doing their part to stem the stream of waste in our public school system. Getting Tools to City Schools is one of these exceptional organizations that is trying to not only make our schools more sustainable, but also ensure that all students in New York City’s public schools have the tools they need to succeed.
Founded and directed by Dennis Kitchen, GTCS sells eco-friendly 3-ring binders as a way to fund its charitable mission of providing free, basic school supplies to students in New York City’s low-income public schools. Over half of the 1.1 million children enrolled in our city’s public schools can’t afford lunch, much less basic school supplies. In fact, New York City teachers spend anywhere from $500-$2000 of their own money each year to buy basic supplies for their students. So Dennis decided to start a charitable organization that would give these students the necessary supplies they need to perform well in school: a brand new three-ring binder, lined paper, pencil, pens, pocket divider folders and a pencil pouch.
As a way to fund the needed school supplies, Getting Tools to City Schools started selling eco-friendly 3-ring binders. The binders are made of 100% recycled paperboard, which is FDA approved and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. In addition, the binders are reusable, which makes them economical. The binder features an ingenious removable 3-ring binder mechanism. All you have to do is dis-attach the rings, recycle the tattered and doodled-upon binder cover, and attach a new cover ready for artistic expression. No more wasteful vinyl binders filling up our landfills. In case you didn’t know, 40 million vinyl binders are sold in the U.S. each year, accounting for 35 million pounds of landfill. Each year there are 8,000 landfill fires, and the PVC burning in these fires may now be the single largest source of dioxin releases in the environment.
Getting Tools to City Schools, which is an approved vendor of the NYC Department of Education, has already received orders from 3 public schools who are outfitting their entire schools (students, staff & administration) with GTCS’ recyclable, reusable binders for the fall. Volume discounts are offered on orders of 50 or more to schools, parent’s groups, businesses, and organizations. All New York City public schools (grades K-12), whose student body is receiving more than 90% of Title 1 Funding (The Federal Free Lunch in Schools Program) are eligible for GTCS’ services. With every reusable, recyclable binder purchased at full price, Getting Tools to City Schools will give a binder to a student at a low-income public school. Be part of the solution: help our city’s children perform well at school by purchasing these recyclable binders that won’t add to our landfills.
(If you want to ensure delivery of your binders before the start of the school year, get your orders in before August 1, 2010.)
Contact:
info@gettingtoolstocityschools.org
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