DDSB Opens a Re:Source Depot

Posted On Thursday October 10, 2019
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A few of the amazing DDSB volunteers who are greeting and helping educators at the Re:Source Depot. (L-R) Manager, Early Years and Poverty Strategy Claire Morgan, Early Childhood Educator Facilitator Diane Hollywood, Casual Maintenance Worker Lucas Visser and Early Childhood Educator Facilitator Amanda Cameron.

The Durham District School Board offers educators free supplies and food to help in the classroom

On September 25, the Make a Difference Steering Committee and the Early Years and Poverty Strategy Department opened up the Durham District School Board’s Re:Source Depot at Village Union PS. It’s a space where educators from across the Board can come to get free materials that can be reused or repurposed for classroom or play-based learning. They have also partnered with the Durham Student Nutrition Program to assist in boosting breakfast and snack programs for schools in the Durham Region.  

“We want educators to know that we support them, and that the opportunities for learning and exploration can be endless and at no cost,” says Manager, Early Years and Poverty Strategy Claire Morgan. “We hope to create a constant cycle of receiving materials to lessen the burden on our landfills and send items back into our classrooms to enhance learning.”

Many community organizations and businesses have donated materials to the Depot and some of the items include binders, pillowcases, books, school supplies, fabric, and cardboard rolls. In these early days of the initiative, donated food for the nutrition program has included yogurt and hard-boiled eggs. Some organizations have provided diapers, pull-ups, Croc shoes and T-shirts.

The Re:Source Depot is a great place for teachers to pick up fun and unique learning tools, but also to supplement materials that run out over the course of the school year such as markers, crayons or construction paper. 

“There are lots of really useful things here,” says Ryan Ferguson, Grade 3 Teacher at Village Union PS. “It’s a place where Teachers can come together and pick stuff up instead of having to spend their own money.”

Finding a Location

The DDSB Facilities Services Department was transforming the building that was previously Oshawa Central Collegiate Institute into the new location for Village Union PS. Thankfully, there was space available for the Depot to set-up shop.

The creation of the Re:Source Depot is an example of what teamwork and vision can accomplish at the DDSB.

“This initiative has been a dream of the Make A Difference Steering Committee for over four years under the leadership of Superintendent of Education Jim Markovski and Senior Manager, Early Years, Poverty Strategy Stacey Lepine-Fisher. I am extremely proud to be able to help bring this vision to reality,” Morgan says.

The Depot is open to DDSB educators every Wednesday between the hours of 12 pm – 7 pm. All items are free.