Sto-Rox paper shortage helped by a tweet
A guidance counselor at Sto-Rox School District said she’s been touched by the generosity people have shown since she tweeted about a paper shortage in the district.
“I was so surprised at how quickly this could all happen. This is a perfect example of kindness and generosity, and it is fitting that it happened on Valentine’s Day,” first-year guidance counselor Katie Couch said.
In the two days since Couch tweeted about the shortage, her account has exploded with retweets, likes and responses from people who want to help.
I am a school counselor at Sto-Rox, a low income school district in the #Pittsburgh area. We have completely ran out of paper for the rest of the year. Any #businesses willing to #donate paper to us?! @HeinzKetchup_US @PPG @dickssportingss @Alcoa
— Katie Couch (@Couch_Kitten) February 14, 2020
“I won’t know exactly what we’re getting until I get back to school on Tuesday, but I think we should have about 100 cases of paper waiting,” Couch said.
Sto-Rox serves about 1,400 students from McKees Rocks and Stowe Township.
It qualifies as a Title I school, which means it receives federal money to improve academic opportunities for disadvantaged children.
“We use the white copy paper for worksheets, quizzes, study guides and that kind of stuff,” Couch said. “When we ran out, we started using pastel pink paper, legal paper, anything we could find.”
Couch posted to Twitter on Feb. 14, tagging local companies like Shop ‘n Save, 84 Lumber and PNC, and hoping for a few donations to replenish the supply.
“Our kids are also so appreciative of any donations,” she said. “Especially when it’s new. This will be like Christmas for them.”
— Katie Couch (@Couch_Kitten) February 14, 2020
Her post has since been retweeted 564 times and responses have flooded her feed, with local business, strangers and corporations offering to help.
“Oh my God, is it incredible or what?” Superintendent Frank Dalmas said.
“What’s amazing is that everyone, especially our local community, has stepped up and said, ‘Anything we can do to help,’” he said.
A conservative spending budget led to the surprising paper shortage. The district used its supply more quickly than expected, Dalmas said.
The district received help from The Education Partnership, which delivered reams of legal paper to use.
“The teachers had to cut the extra three inches off each sheet, but we were happy to take it,” Dalmas said.
The amount of paper donations has been overwhelming. ?? thank you all.
— Katie Couch (@Couch_Kitten) February 15, 2020
Both Couch and Dalmas said the impact on students will be long lasting, not only for the paper to use in class but also for the lesson on helping a neighbor in need.
“Knowing that in our social media world today so much of what happens there is a negative form of communication, it is so overwhelming to look at the positive that can happen,” Dalmas said.
Anyone interested in donating can visit amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/377K2J1RS0RIR or call 412-771-3213.
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