Picture this: you’re a teacher staring down another school year, and your classroom budget is, let’s be honest, laughable.
Then someone hands you a tote bag stuffed with supplies you actually need. That’s not just helpful—according to one local educator, it’s basically “Teacher Christmas.”
Welcome to OTIS Federal Credit Union‘s “Totes for Teachers” program, which just wrapped its fourth year by delivering over 225 supply-packed totes to educators across nine Maine counties. And here’s the best part: it keeps getting bigger.
More Than Just a Bag of Pens
Most teachers swung by OTIS FCU branches to grab their totes during special in-branch events. But the credit union didn’t stop at school supplies. Educators also scored fresh apples (because apparently someone at OTIS has a great sense of symbolism), courtesy of Jay Hannaford.
For teachers who couldn’t make it in, OTIS team members became delivery drivers, hitting the road to drop off totes at nearly a dozen schools. We’re talking a proper supply run from Farmington to Fairfield, Lewiston to Norway. The teachers loved it. The OTIS staff loved doing it. Everyone wins.
It Takes a Village (And Some Strategic Donation Boxes)
Here’s where the community really showed up. Local businesses and residents jumped in by hosting donation boxes and contributing supplies. Spruce Mountain Pharmacy in Jay deserves a special shoutout—they’ve been a donation hub for three years running and dropped off hundreds of paper towels along with other classroom essentials this year.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see how this initiative has grown and the positive impact it has on educators in our communities,” says Jasmine Jackman, loan officer at OTIS. “Our team looks forward to coming together each year to prepare and distribute the totes, and we know the teachers look forward to receiving them, too. One teacher even described the experience as ‘Teacher Christmas,’ which really captures how meaningful these supplies are to educators.”
The Community All-Stars
OTIS wants to give proper credit to the local partners who made this happen by hosting donation boxes or contributing supplies:
Auburn
- Roy’s All Steak Burgers (Washington St)
Farmington/Wilton
- Farmington Public Library
- Food City – Farmington
- Food City – Wilton
Jay/Livermore Falls
- Events By Dina
- Food City – Livermore Falls
- Jay-Niles Memorial Library
- Jay Town Office
- Livermore Falls Town Office
- Spruce Mountain Pharmacy
What’s Next?
OTIS FCU is already plotting year five, which will include a special in-branch event with extra giveaways and surprises. Translation: “Teacher Christmas” is about to get even better.
In the meantime, OTIS wishes everyone—teachers, students, and the parents bracing themselves for back-to-school shopping—a great start to the school year. And if you’re a local business or community member interested in joining next year’s effort, keep your eyes peeled. Something tells us those donation boxes will be back.