While preparing to open her home daycare, Parish Banks faced the challenge of acquiring necessary supplies. The solution came from an unexpected source: a Facebook post about a dumpster filled with school supplies at Carlos Fuentes Elementary School in Chicago.
The school, transitioning from a charter to a public school, had discarded various educational items. These included classroom decor, books, art supplies, and toys. For Banks, who was opening Pristine Leadership Academy in Grand Crossing, the find was a timely “blessing.”
“This was needed. A lot of this stuff I’ve had to buy and get off Facebook Marketplace,” Banks said. “I saw it this morning at like 6 a.m. when I got up. I immediately rushed over here because I need all this.”
The online post sparked discussions about the waste in discarding usable school materials, especially as supply costs have risen over 10% since July 2023. There were calls for such items to be reused or donated instead.
The discovery coincided with a state plan to reduce the sales tax on school supplies to help curb costs. The National Retail Federation estimates that families will spend an average of $863.86 on back-to-school supplies this year.
Banks explained the expenses involved in setting up her daycare, from organizational tools to play-based curriculum materials. “Things to play with are expensive,” she noted. “Bins, literally things just to store, are $10 to $15.”
By retrieving these supplies, Banks aims to support her community on Chicago’s South Side. She expressed gratitude for finding items for her students, saying, “Had I known, they could have just called me and gave it to me.”
Ashley Di Bella, who posted about the dumpster on a Facebook community page, hoped to reduce waste and help others. She highlighted the value of the discarded items, including toys and books, by encouraging people to retrieve them.
“I’d rather post and let people know, ‘Hey, come get this,’ than to be worried, upset right now,” Di Bella said.
Banks has since informed friends who might benefit from the supplies, emphasizing their potential usefulness.
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