READ! READ! Read!
BEFORE APPLYING, READ ALL OF THE RULES!
Art of Recycle doesn’t have funders or backers to help teachers. AoR’s staff works hard to raise the money that creates all of AoR ‘s programs. AoR’s funds are limited, and that is why AoR has made strict rules that help to keep the balance between the funds that are raised and the merchandise that we are able to give away to each school and organization that is asking for assistance.
Art of Recycle’s free programs are in high demand, your application can take several weeks to process. Applications are only accepted through this website page. Do NOT show up in person with the expectation of being able to access AoR’s Free Resource Program if you have not received an approval e-mail.
Art of Recycle’s store and free crafting area are open to the public. You, your family, and your friends may enjoy the comforts of free crafting in our Undersea Crafting Area, browsing our extensive book section, shopping in the craft store and roaming about our amazing center Anytime AoR is open.
Please respect our staff and our rules at Art of Recycle. The items that you receive for free through the Free Resource Program do NOT belong to you, they belong to the organization or school that you work for or volunteer for. It is not a RIGHT for you to receive free items simply because you are a teacher, it is a privilege that we are offering to our communities. 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 will revoke your permission to be a part of that program. 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.
There is no fee for this program. However, Art of Recycle raises funds to pay staff to process applications, and to pick-up donations, sort, clean, organize donations and maintain AoR’s center, AoR is also responsible for the rent, utilities, insurance, taxes, and overhead and liabilities associated with the center. The program is free only in the sense that we gift our paid labor and resources to those in need, it is not free to run the program. To keep AoR’s programming free, AoR staff must raise over $30,000 a month to pay for the program expenses and every year those expenses rise to a higher cost.
AoR’s staff researches the validity of your claims of being a teacher or an activity director and does call schools and organizations to ensure that you have the authority to pick up resources for your school, organization, or church. These background checks protect our organization from theft and assures our donors that their donations are going to actual classrooms and are not being sold for profit or used for personal use. 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. Art of Recycle’s Free Resource Program is paid for by Art of Recycle’s craft store and book store via the hard work of AoR’s paid staff and AoR volunteers. We do our best to make these resources available to communities in need. Please respect the people who make this happen.
How AoR Teacher Resource Center Works
Read About How Our Program Works Before Applying
- Art of Recycle’s Free Resource Program is available to non-profits, schools, churches, 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.
- To receive the benefits of accessing Art of Recycle's Free Resource Program you must apply to the program in order to determine your organization’s or school’s eligibility.
- School teachers that teach quarterly or seasonally may only access the teacher area during the periods in which they are actively teaching.
- Fill out the application at the bottom of this page and 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 free classroom resources for one time use, such as for an event or a theater production, fill out the online application. AoR will loan out free classroom tools and other school equipment to your organization/school.
- After you have received a confirmation e-mail that your school or organization is eligible, you must check in at the front desk when you arrive for your first visit to ensure that your name and information is properly inputed into our system.
- Please keep our center 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 are eligible for a discount program in AoR’s center, AoR provides free resources and sometimes student snacks for all parents when those items are available. Ask about our HomeSchool program 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 that are not free, swap price tags, or resell online, you will be banned from Art of Recycle’s facilities and issued a trespass notice that will be filed with the police department.
- AoR staff has the right to put a cap on the amount of items any organization or individual is taking from the resource center.
- Permission to visit our center can be revoked at any time if our staff believes that there is good cause.
- Art of Recycle’s Free Resource Program is paid for by Art of Recycle’s craft store and book store via the hard work of AoR’s paid staff and AoR volunteers. We do our best to make these resources available to communities in need, but the cost is very high for our organization to pay for this service and to make it available as a free service. Please respect the people who make this happen. Art of Recycle does not have corporate sponsors, big donors or receive grants for AoR programs. All funds are raised through AoR’s store.
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