Materials for the Arts, the city’s creative reuse center, on Wednesday launched its annual Back to School Shopping Spree, giving educators free access to a massive warehouse of supplies ranging from basics like paper, notebooks and chalkboards to more surprising finds like fabric, beads, mannequins, plus film and TV props.
Located in Long Island City, Queens, MFTA’s 35,000-square-foot warehouse is stocked this fall with donations from partners like the American Folk Art Museum, which contributed nearly 2,000 illustrated fable books and Brooklyn-based stationery shop Mr. Boddington’s Studio, which provided composition books.
The initiative is open to teachers from the more than 1,800 public schools enrolled in the MFTA program. Shopping is by appointment, and schools not yet enrolled are encouraged to join so their teachers can benefit.
Beyond supplies, MFTA is also bringing back its monthly After Hours: Late Night Teacher Shopping, extending warehouse hours into the evening with live creative reuse demos.
The program kicks off Sept. 11 and continues on the first Thursday of every month through June 2025.
Educators can also take advantage of professional development opportunities this fall, including courses that offer P-Credits and CTLE hours, plus a new Sustainability Curriculum Guide designed to help teachers incorporate eco-conscious lessons into the classroom.
Last year alone, MFTA took in more than six million pounds of donations valued at nearly $25 million from industries like film, TV and theater. Those items now live on in classrooms across the five boroughs, helping teachers stretch tight budgets and spark creativity in their students.
Teachers interested in joining the Back to School Shopping Spree or scheduling an appointment can visit nyc.gov/mfta.
