READ! READ! Read!
BEFORE APPLYING, READ ALL OF THE RULES!
Because of the high demand of our programs, your application can take several weeks to process. Applications are only accepted through this website page. Do Not show up with the expectation of being able to enter the Resource Center upon receipt. Make certain that you have a babysitter to watch your children and do not bring family or friends with you with the assumption that they will be able to accompany you into the Resource Center. The teacher area is not a place for you to “shop” for things you WANT, it is a building of education material that your school, church, or organization NEEDS. The items that you take do NOT belong to you, they belong to the organization or school that you work for or volunteer for. If we suspect that the items that you take are not going to the needs of your students or clients, and we confirm that your school or organizations did not receive those items, then we may prosecute you for theft. Ask your schools or organizations if they want you to pick up free materials from us, before applying to our program. If your school, church, or organization that you work for or volunteer at, does NOT want you to pick up items in their name, then do not apply. It is a crime to solicit donations for a non-profit or school without their permission.
Don’t act surprised, when you arrive, that we enforce our rules. Ignorance does not enable you to break the rules that our organization has put into place, according to the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, to protect our staff and our initiative. The fee of processing your application to be accepted into our program is $35. This fee helps AoR’s staff to be able to spend the time to research the validity of your claims of being a teacher or an activity director and have the authority to pick up resources for your school, organization, or church. These background checks protects our organization from theft and assures our donors that their donations are going to actual classrooms and are not being sold for profit. Breaking our rules or abusing our staff will result in an automatic ban from Art of Recycle. AoR is proud of our strong ethical practices and we will not permit anyone to compromise our integrity.
How AoR Teacher Resource Center Works
Read About How Our Program Works Before Applying
- Art of Recycle’s Teacher Resource Center is available to non-profits, schools, home school co-ops, and organizations who are paying for education material out of their own pocket for multiple students/clients who are not related to them. It is for programs who have little to no budget for classroom activities.
- AoR cannot ship items anywhere. All items are pick-up only.
- Your School or Organization does not need to reside in Pennsylvania, but an authorized person must be able to pick-up the items you need for your school.
- To receive the benefits of accessing Art of Recycle's Teacher Resource Center you must apply in order to determine your eligibility.
- Our Resource Center is going digital. We are finally able to save trees by using fillable online forms that help us to track the impact of the resource program. Soon, you won’t need to carry a clipboard around.
- Upload your driver’s license and a letter from your organization stating that you have permission to receive free school supplies in that organization‘s name and bring those ID’s with you when you visit us. Receiving donations in the name of an organization without their permission is a crime. You may not sell the resources that you receive.
- If you are receiving resources for one time use, such as for an event or a theater production, fill out the online application and request a hardship waiver if needed.
- We require a $35 yearly processing fee to verify that you are eligible to use AoR’s Resource Center. This non-refundable processing fee ensures that our staff is able to complete the necessary paperwork and research to protect our organization’s programs, and ensures our donors that their donations are making it into the hands of educators and organizations that need these resources. Request a hardship waiver of the processing fee if needed.
- After you show proof that you have permission to receive items for your school or organization, and that your school or organization is eligible, you may check in at the front desk in order to enter the Teacher Resource Center.
- AoR’s friendly staff will provide you with a clipboard with an impact sheet attached. You must fill out an impact form every time you take materials from the free teacher section.
- Please keep the teacher area as neat and tidy as possible. It is staffed by generous volunteers and paid employees who work hard to make this program available for those in need. Please treat our staff and volunteers courteously.
- Homeschool parents who are not part of a co-op are not eligible for a membership in the teacher resource center, but AoR provides free resources and sometimes student snacks for all parents when those items are available. Check the free resources in the Undersea Room when you enter our facility.
- Your behavior means everything. Do not abuse our staff or treat them with disrespect. We do not tolerate bad behavior of any sort. Any yelling, cursing, or demeaning of our staff will result in you being removed from our premises and banned from ever entering AoR again.
- Everything in AoR’s resource center is generously and kindly donated to Art of Recycle with the knowledge that those items will be used for the purpose of education. If you take items for your own personal use, or to sell online, you will be banned from Art of Recycle’s facilities and issued a trespass notice that will be filed with the police department.
- Permission to visit our center can be revoked at any time if our staff believes that there is good cause.
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