GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Monday, March 20, was a planning day for teachers. Even with students home for the day, many planned for the final two months of classes by filling bags with enough school supplies to complete the year.

A steady flow of about 160 teachers moved through a small room stuffed with pens, pencils, glue, hand sanitizer and paper as part of the Clay Education Foundation’s Tools 4 Clay program.

Teachers have been able to pick up free supplies four times yearly at Garber Automall and Keystone Heights. For many, it’s the type of support that helps them concentrate on education instead of making ends meet. “It really does help, especially when children don’t have anything,” said Nancy L. Johnson, a seventh-grade reading teacher at Oakleaf Junior High. “We can give them what they need and we can keep teaching. It also means we don’t have to go to the parents again.”

Johnson came with a shopping list in mind. She wanted tissues, folders, sanitizer and composition books. Thanks to the education foundation and its tireless work to attract donations and matching grant money from the state, school district teachers could fill their classrooms with more than $100,000 in supplies last year, according to Carolyn Krall, President of the Clay Education Foundation.

“You can never get enough,” said Charles E. Bennett fourth-grade teacher Kimberly J. Carter.

Krall said the success of the program depends on the community’s generosity.

“A portion of supplies are bought,” she said. “We accept donations. We also get supplies from stores like Staples and Walmart.

“A portion comes from a matching grant from the state. For every $500 in donations we get, we can buy $1,000 of supplies.

The Bailey Group, a company that specializes in healthcare, financial services and corporate benefits, spearheaded the Tools 4 Clay project several years ago with a pair of $10,000 donations.

Garber gave Clay Education Foundation a room at its Pre-Owned Center to store supplies and open its doors four times a year for a shopping spree. The foundation has access to the room all year.

More than 1,000 teachers participate in the Tools 4 Clay during the year, Krall said.