Amerigroup delivers supplies, money to Bibb County teachers

Plastic bins full of school supplies were unloaded from a big blue and white bus and given to teachers at four Bibb County schools on Friday.

Amerigroup Community Care of Georgia, a group that works with the population eligible for Medicaid, delivered tubs full of paper, tissues, hand sanitizer, pens and more to L.H. Williams, Southfield, Riley and Hunt elementary schools. The schools are classified by the Georgia Department of Education as Title I schools, meaning each has a high percentage of students from low-income families.

"We already do back-to-school drives and we already do a re-pack the backpack (event), but we wanted to do something for the teachers because they run out of supplies just like the students run out of supplies," said Amber Jones, marketing account manager for Amerigroup's central region. "Hopefully, this will be something we can do annually."

The group also presented each school with a $500 check to spend on additional supplies.

Southfield Elementary School Principal Janice Sharpe said the supplies and the money mean a lot for the students and the teachers.

"Many teachers buy supplies out of pocket just to meet the needs of the students," Sharpe said. "So it helps alleviate that cost burden on them. It means a lot for Amerigroup to do that for our students."

Kindergarten teacher Marcy Kalman said she's probably spent more than $300 of her own money on supplies for her students this year.

"I had a lot of parents donate supplies, but we do start running low," Kalman said. "We do spend a lot out of pocket."

Kalman said she wasn't expecting the $500 check and was "very excited."

"I think that was just fantastic," Kalman said of Amerigroup's donations. "It will help so much."

During the month-long community outreach program, called Teacher Supply Closet, Amerigroup will deliver supplies and $500 checks to a total of 39 schools across the state.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 9:44 PM with the headline "Amerigroup delivers supplies, money to Bibb County teachers ."