Free classroom supplies coming to Morgan County teachers in September via Free 2 Teach
Free 2 Teach, a Huntsville-based nonprofit that provides free classroom supplies for North Alabama educators, is expanding into the Morgan County School system.
Beginning this September, teachers in the Hartselle City, Decatur City, and Morgan County school systems will have the opportunity to receive free school supplies from the non-profit.
Free 2 Teach has offered this service to Madison County since 2011 and in Limestone County since 2025. On August 26, the organization announced its expansion into Morgan County.
The expansion brings the organization’s reach to eight public school districts, 158 schools, and more than 97,000 students.
Free 2 Teach CEO Alison Kling said 6,000 public school educators and staff members will now be eligible to use its services.
“We are open to every single adult in the building. If you’re a school nurse, if you are a speech pathologist, if you are a full-time class teacher, if you are a sub, this is a place for you, and we’re so excited for what’s ahead,” Kling said.
To kick off this expansion into Morgan County, Free 2 Teach is hosting a school supply kickoff event for all educators in the area’s three school systems. At the event, teachers will have the opportunity to receive a bag of free school supplies and meet the nonprofit’s team.
“We are literally driving that bus over that river, and it’s going to be really fun. We’re going to have supply welcome events. They’re going to learn how to come shop with us,” Kling said.
All teachers and school staff are welcome to attend their district’s Free 2 Teach Welcome Event and Pop-Up Supply Shop.
Advance registration is not required; however, educators are encouraged to sign up through free2teach.org to help the Free 2 Teach team plan for attendance and supplies.
Teachers and school staff should bring their school badge or identification to the event.
Morgan County Free 2 Teach School Supply Events:
Thursday, September 17: Hartselle City Schools
- The Burleson Center: 4:00 p.m.
Friday, September 18: Decatur City Schools
- Decatur Morgan County Farmers Market: 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 23: Morgan County Schools
- Priceville Event Center: 4:00 p.m.
Starting in October, teachers and school staff across all three public school systems can register for shopping appointments at Free 2 Teach’s Huntsville resource center and shop for free classroom supplies and resources throughout the school year.
Alabama State Senator Arthur Orr partnered with Kling and Free 2 Teach to bring the expansion into Morgan County.
Orr previously operated a mini-grant program that allowed Morgan County teachers to apply for funding to purchase instructional materials for their classrooms. The program slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the years that followed.
“We used to do a mini-grant program in Morgan County that was for classroom instructional materials for teachers to outfit their classrooms as they wanted, buying the materials that they needed with a small grant. When COVID hit and the years after that, the program kind of went down,” Orr said.
The expansion is supported by nearly $170,000 in grant funding provided by Orr. The investment will fund the organization’s first year of service in Morgan County.
“This really will enhance their capabilities to access the resources of Free 2 Teach and then, in the process, obviously help the children that they’re teaching, and that’s a win for everybody,” Orr said.
“Senator Orr has been a longtime supporter of education across our state and our region,” Kling said.
Kling continued, “This significant grant funding is a continuation of his powerful commitment to educators. We are so honored and excited to serve this incredible community and support the amazing work already happening in schools across Morgan County.”
The Free 2 Teach Huntsville resource center is open 11 months of the year. Public school teachers and school staff can shop for free every month.
Since its founding, Free 2 Teach has distributed more than $17 million in supplies to educators in North Alabama.
