THE WELMAN PROJECT

With our educator resource program, we're tackling two big issues in our community - waste output generated by businesses and lack of resources in our schools - with one innovative solution: creative reuse. We collect surplus materials from companies and donate those items to classrooms, working one-on-one with teachers to provide free, curriculum-enhancing repurpose alternatives to purchasing new supplies. Providing free materials for their classroom provides immediate relief to teachers, giving them meaningful community support and significant cost savings to be able to stay on the job, and enabling them to focus on student outcomes rather than struggling to get the supplies they need. The teachers we serve overwhelmingly report feeling less stressed and better prepared to address their student's needs, both because of the ideas and materials received and the encouragement of coming to a place where they feel supported by the community. By enabling educators to utilize readily-available resources from the community rather than relying on the purchase of expensive educational materials, we're removing the district red tape and financial disparities that contribute to teacher burnout and inequity across our schools, leading to better outcomes for students long-term. In 2023, we kept 261 dumpsters worth of material from going to the landfill, served 6,675 educators, and distributed $2.4 million worth of supplies to schools.

Our creative reuse education program helps teachers bring hands-on, open-ended learning to the classroom, building complex problem-solving and critical thinking skills by challenging students to experiment, design, and see things in a different way. With free access to power tools, crafting equipment, and design software, teachers can create an engaging learning environment and hands-on, creative projects for their students without budget limitations standing in their way. Teachers from across districts, grade levels, and subjects are able to collaborate and exchange ideas, and retired teacher and craftsman volunteers provide inspiration and guidance during our open makerspace hours. In our professional development workshops, we provide teachers with training and materials for unique projects, along with guidance on utilizing creative reuse to make their daily STEAM curriculum more hands-on without having to spend money on supplies. In 2023, 434 individuals took workshops in our makerspace, and over 700 students participated in our annual recycled art exhibit, practicing teamwork and creativity while learning about waste reduction.