Our Mission

THE COMMUNITY

Bladen County, in southeastern North Carolina, is home to about 30,000 people. Families here work hard—many in agriculture, producing blueberries, soybeans, peanuts, corn, wheat, and cotton, or at the Smithfield Plant in Tar Heel, the largest pork processing facility in the world. Yet despite these industries, Bladen remains one of the state’s most economically distressed counties. The median household income is just $44,528, and 70% of employed residents must leave the county each day to work elsewhere.

THE SCHOOLS

Bladen County Schools serve 3,800 students across 12 schools: five primary, four middle, and three high schools. The challenges are significant:

• 70% of students are minorities
• 64.4% are economically disadvantaged
• Most schools earn D ratings, with proficiency at only 31% in math and 34% in reading

Teachers are doing their best with limited resources—300 educators, nearly 90% licensed, earning an average salary of $44,750. But the reality is stark: too many classrooms lack the tools students need to learn and thrive.

OUR MISSION

Classroom Closet exists to bridge that gap. We are a nonprofit dedicated to equipping Bladen County teachers and students with the supplies that spark learning, reduce barriers, and create healthier classroom environments. Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and every teacher deserves the tools to make that possible.

OUR PLAN

We are starting small but with big impact. In our first stage, Classroom Closet will serve teachers in all five of Bladen’s primary schools. Teachers in early grades especially need a wide range of resources that often come out of their own pockets. Our “Closet” will provide:

• Basic supplies: pencils, markers, paper, tissues
• Learning tools: math blocks, fraction circles, posters, chart paper
• Classroom organization: bins, bookshelves, bulletin board materials
• Health items: antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues

Supplies will be organized in a storefront-style space. Each month, teachers can “shop” for up to $100 in free resources. These tools will not only support classroom instruction but also ensure that students who lose or run out of supplies don’t fall behind.

WHY IT MATTERS

Teachers in Bladen are fighting against the odds, but no one can do it alone. A child’s future should never depend on whether their family can afford crayons, notebooks, or a box of tissues. By giving teachers access to the resources they need, we give students the chance to focus on what really matters: learning.

FUNDING

Classroom Closet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our work will be sustained through grants, corporate and personal contributions, and support from local churches and businesses. Every dollar goes directly toward putting essential resources into the hands of teachers and students.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CHANGE CLASSROOMS.

With your support, we can transform Bladen County’s classrooms into spaces where every child is equipped to learn, grow, and succeed—no matter their circumstances.