Classroom Connections of ECI Donates 45,300 Masks to Local Schools

Ross Center’s Executive Director Jacqueline Hanoman receives 620 masks from non-profit Classroom Connections of ECI. Photo by Stacy WheelerRoss Center’s Executive Director Jacqueline Hanoman receives 620 masks from non-profit Classroom Connections of ECI. Photo by Stacy Wheeler

By Joanna Robertson—

Muncie, IN—Classroom Connections of ECI has been selected as the regional hub to distribute a Midwest portion of JOANN’s nationwide donation of 1.8 million masks to pre-K—12th grade schools in partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation.

“Our longtime corporate partner JOANN’s, who donates tens of thousands of dollars in arts and craft products annually, will be playing an active role in ensuring the health and safely of regional teachers and students we serve,” said Stacy Wheeler, executive director of local non-profit Classroom Connections of ECI.

“Over the past month, we’ve donated 45,300 washable cotton face masks to preschools and high school classrooms in Muncie, Delaware County and Anderson Community Schools,” said Wheeler. “We’re proud to be able to connect school districts and community centers to this corporate donor, as school programs resume in-person classes. Face masks continue to be one of the most effective ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

About Classroom Connections of ECI

For nearly 20 years, Classroom Connections of ECI, formerly known as the Back To School Teachers Store, operates East Central Indiana’s educational resource center for under- resourced pre-K —12th grade classrooms. The non-profit’s mission aims to provide essential classroom supplies to underserved teachers and students to ensure teachers can teach and learners can learn. Each year the non-profit donates essential school supplies to more than 2,500 teachers and 25,000 children. Classroom Connections of ECI works diligently with businesses and corporations to acquire new classroom supply donations and supports programs that capture surplus product donations to prevent waste. #classroomconnector