The fountain at Danbury Fair Mall, once a massive pool with water shooting up two stories, has undergone a few renovations in its history—including most recently, when it became the centerpiece of a back-to-school supply drive organized by the local teachers’ union.
Filled with items on teachers’ wish lists from the city’s 18 public schools, the center court fountain was encircled by a schoolbus, live DJ booth, giving trees, back-to-school selfie station, giveaways, and a team of Danbury educators in bright orange tees.
“Our teachers came out on one of their last summer weekends to help make this first-ever event a success,” says NEA-Danbury President Erin Daly, a third-grade teacher at Pembroke School. “What we’re trying to do is put school supplies directly in the hands of classroom teachers so that all of our students have what they need to start off school right on the first day.”
Daly says the partnership with Danbury Fair, facilitated by State Representative Farley Santos and the office of Mayor Roberto Alves, has generated not only positive publicity and foot traffic for the shopping center but also greater public awareness of what local teachers and students need to succeed.
“As classroom teachers,” Daly explains, “we don’t get a lot of money for supplies. I can speak to that as one of three teachers at my grade level who have to split $800 among us, which works out to about $12 per student for the entire school year. That money doesn’t go very far, so we all reach into our own pockets to fill the gaps and make sure our kids have everything they need.”
Pick your own
Among the items collected during NEA-Danbury’s supply drive—which kicked off on Saturday, August 24, and runs through Sunday, September 8—are composition notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, tissues, and classroom cleaning supplies.
“Basically, we’re talking about everything a child needs to get started on the first day of school,” says Daly. “Most of our teachers have lists posted to their websites for each school. We compiled them, noticed significant similarities and overlap, and have been asking community members to help us with those high-use items.”
She adds, “Tissues, wipes, and hand sanitizers are not things that are provided to us, and obviously we want to have healthy classrooms, so those are really important items for teachers to make sure their kids are safe.”
Giving trees filled with apple-shaped hang tags were positioned around the mall, where shoppers could pick an apple, purchase the items listed, and donate them in bins placed around the mall or in the center court fountain. Mall merchants offered prizes to donors.
In addition, Danbury Fair Mall presented NEA-Danbury with a $2,500 check to help with remaining needs.
“Our plan is to survey our newest teachers, see what their greatest needs are, and disburse that money to each classroom,” Daly explains.
Mall with a mission
“We are so excited to support our public school system,” says Danbury Fair’s general manager, Maura Ruby. “This is such a community center, we really want to foster that relationship and showcase the quality work of our schools.”
“When we heard Danbury school teachers needed help restocking their school supply cabinets, we thought, ‘This is going to be our mission this summer,’” recalls Danbury Fair marketing manager Nicole Ruotolo. “We’re super committed to this. We got in touch with Erin Daly and asked, ‘How we can help?’ We’ve had an overwhelming response from our community, and we’re so excited that they’ve come out in support.”
98Q radio host and program director Rich Minor—no stranger to early mornings (with a 3:50 a.m. wakeup) and being “on” for hours—entertained shoppers with music and giveaways.
“We appreciate everything teachers do,” he said. “We know they help strengthen the lives and education of our children, and we are here for them—local for local.”
Many shoppers donating to the cause were parents from Danbury and surrounding communities.
“Our kids are all grown up,” said Lynn and Jeff Kunak, “but we remember what it’s like to have to buy all these supplies.” The couple dropped off scissors, notebooks, and other essentials.
Brian McGrath and his son Brady, a seventh-grader, came out to do their back-to-school shopping and included donations as part of their mission.
“We saw this great setup and thought we’d check it out,” McGrath said.
“I know school supplies add up, they’re expensive, and they go fast,” said Alicia Arinella, shopping with her young daughter and wearing ‘We Love Our NEA-Danbury Teachers’ stickers designed in Danbury school colors and supplied by CEA. “That’s why we came out to support.”
Fellow mom Lucy French added, “I’m a big fan of all our teachers they work all year round, even when they’re not clocked in, and we appreciate everything they do.”
