About

About

When the floods of 2008 devastated Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas, we began to lay the groundwork for the Teacher Store, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Fully operational since 2009, the Teacher Store provides free classroom supplies to area K-12 educators when funds are not available, bridging the resource gap between what schools and families can provide and what is needed by the children to be successful in their learning.

In June 2018, the Teacher Store’s original home in downtown Cedar Rapids suffered structural damage, and the building owners decided not to make repairs. After considering several other possible locations, we decided to reinvent the store as a mobile unit, just in time for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Now on wheels, the Teacher Store can bring supplies directly to teachers at their schools. This new mobility also allows the store to extend its reach to surrounding counties, making it easier for teachers in outlying areas to benefit from the free supplies.

In August 2024, we expanded our operations by moving into a new space in Hiawatha. This gives educators a dedicated location to access essential supplies year-round. This addition enables us to support more educators across various communities, helping ensure students have the resources they need for success throughout the entire school year.

The Teacher Store’s primary financial support is from Corda Credit Union. We also rely on donations from generous individuals and companies, as well as grant funding, to keep the wheels turning. We accept donations of NEW supplies, as well as monetary donations which allow us to purchase additional inventory.

The Teacher Store Board of Directors

Lacey Becker (Executive Director) — Teacher Store
Pat Kadlec (Board Chairperson) — Cedar Rapids Community School District, Retired
Lauren Manning (Board Secretary) — College Community School District
Andrea Brommelkamp (Board Director) — Corda Credit Union, Member Development
Ryne George (Board Director) — Corda Credit Union, Community Impact
Brian Johnson (Board Director) — Linn-Mar Community School District
Jess Burger (Board Director) — Grant Wood Area Education Agency
Tessa Stevens (Board Director) — Clear Creek Amana Community School District

This video tells the story of the founding of the Teacher Store and showcases the former store setting. We were blessed to be in this location up until early 2018: 606 5th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids.