#LoveShowsUp: Memorial Provides Free Classroom Supplies for Area Teachers

August 2nd, 2026 - Teachers representing 3 local counties picked up free classroom supplies on Sunday,

during Memorial United Methodist Church’s annual Free Teacher’s Supply Fair. Many area teachers spend their own money on classroom necessities and Memorial wanted to ensure that teachers could focus entirely on teaching & inspiring children without the stress of worrying about missing essentials on the first day of school. The congregation donated thousands of the most requested classroom items and set up the free “shop” on their campus in Maxwell Hall.

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Senior Pastor, Rev. Angie Long, was encouraged by the support provided by the congregation. ”This church felt a call a few years ago to care for our local educators. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of this grace-filled family at Memorial who have donated all of these school supplies.”

Teachers were each given a large bag of cleaning supplies and then were invited to “shop” for free for other items they may need. This year teachers shopped for reams of white and colored copy paper, pencils, dry erase markers, folders, binders, and more. The local Harris Teeter donated paper shopping bags for the event that Memorial volunteers filled with cleaning supplies like paper towels, hand sanitizers, antibacterial cleaner, cleaning wipes, and magic erasers. The educators were even treated to ice cream on their way out of the fair.

“We value the love, care, and teaching local educators provide our children,” Associate Pastor, Rachel Williams said. “We are happy to offer them a bit of love back each year through school supplies. Many teachers have to purchase these items out of their own funds. The Teacher’s Supply Fair is a way we can help make ‘back-to-school’ easier for them.”

The congregation's donations not only provided supplies for area teachers. Classroom items were also donation to two mission partners of Memorial: The district's McKinney Vento Program, which helps unhoused students in Nassau County, and Yulee Primary School. Along with giving supplies to Yulee Primary, volunteers from Memorial also provided a special brunch for teachers at the school on Friday, July 31^st, as the educators returned to their classrooms for the new school year.  

“We feel strongly that as a local church; we should be partnering with the communities we serve.“ Rev. Long added. “When we see a need in our area, we can work together to help Christ’s ’love show up’ for our neighbors.”