Whitley Area Retired Teachers Assoc. conducts annual school supply drive

Photo submitted. Retired Teachers donate supplies to Boston Elementary School: Pictured with WARTA President Ronnie Partin are FRC Assistant Director Wanda Capps, students Emily Baker, Brianna Lawson, Zoe Anglemyer, Aidin Powers, Aleaha Duvall, Makenzie Lawson, and WARTA member Debbie Partin.

Members of the Whitley Area Retired Teachers Association (WARTA) conducted their annual drive to provide school supplies to area students.

With the help of a matching grant from AARP and the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA), the Association donates paper, pencils, crayons, and other items to the Family Resource centers in Corbin, Whitley County, and Williamsburg School Districts.

Photo submitted. Debbie Partin, WARTA member is pictured with students Robert Ivey, Levi Curnutt, Logan Mahan, Abby Lawson, and Cash Veach as well as WARTA member David Higginbotham and Shirley Lawson, Family Resource Center Director.

During their most recent drive in late October and early November, WARTA members collected/donated approximately $550 worth of supplies which will be shared among four schools: Boston Elementary, Pleasant View Elementary, Williamsburg Independent, and Corbin Independent.

“Last year we were able to give supplies to Whitley North, Whitley East, Whitley Central, and Oak Grove Elementary Resource Centers, and I am pleased that we are able to give to the remaining four schools this year,” said Ronnie Partin, WARTA President. “We realize this is a small gift, but it is a way in which retired teachers can continue to be involved and give back to the schools and communities which have been such a big part of their lives.” said Partin.

In addition to providing school supplies, in 2017 retired teachers across the state volunteered more than 940,000 hours which, if paid for, would have cost the state approximately $21.95 million.

All retired teachers in the Whitley County Area are invited and encouraged become involved at both the local (WARTA) and state (KRTA) levels. These two organizations work very hard to maintain the benefits retired teachers have earned and to keep them informed about those benefits.