In 2007, Kathleen Frascona started substitute teaching in Palm Beach County and saw how little help teachers were getting based on the minimums they needed to run their classrooms.
“Each year they spend $3,000 to $5,000 on supplies out of their own pocket just to run the class,” she said. “We are human. We spend money but don’t get reimbursed.”
After researching the idea throughout 2008, Frascona started Treats4teachers.org in the beginning of 2009.
The Web site attempts to connect local businesses from Martin, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties to local teachers to give them relief.
With the use of a teacher’s ID badge or pay stub, Toyota gives teachers a discount from $40 to $19 for oil changes, Ria’s Salon and Spa in Boynton Beach gives 10 percent off and Saturn of Palm Beach gives each teachers $250 in school supplies for each car bought.
“The teachers need this help,” Frascona said. “We want businesses to adopt classrooms. Teachers are running out of copy paper and told there is nothing that can be done.
For information, call 954-415-9273 or visit Treats4teachers.org.
Read more about this story in the Boynton Forum's Recession Relief Guide on July 29.
Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.