Photos of teacher panhandling for school supplies go viral

Teacher Teresa Danks is begging for school supplies in Oklahoma

TULSA, OKLAHOMA (Fox 32 News) - An elementary school teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is drawing worldwide attention because she has been panhandling for money to pay for school supplies.

Teresa Danks said she makes $35,000 a year, and spends $2,000 to $3,000 of her own money on school supplies. Photos of her standing alongside a road with a sign that reads "Teacher needs school supplies! Anything helps! Thank you!" have been shared thousands of times on Facebook.

Teresa's husband Jonathan said the response to the viral photos and her Facebook page, "Begging for Education," has been incredible.

"This has truly been an overwhelming experience for her," he said.

He said she is now trying to raise money for other teachers in her school through a GoFundMe page. There, she is asking for cash donations as well as basic art and school supplies.

  • Egg cartons
  • Paper towel/toilet paper rolls
  • Yarn
  • Old, leftover party paper plates
  • Straws
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Broken costume jewelry
  • Beads
  • Craft wire
  • Silk flowers
  • Plastic water bottles
  • Gallon size plastic jugs
  • Sewing needles/Thread
  • Buttons
  • Fabric pieces
  • Cotton balls/Pom Poms
  • Safety pins
  • Stencils (letters & pictures)
  • Stamp pads
  • Large felt board
  • Sandwich bags
  • Treasure box single wrap candy
  • Single electric hot burner
  • Board games and card games for ages 6+
  • Big Joe black bean bag chair
  • Yoga balls
  • Protractors
  • Microscope
  • Small dorm size refrigerator
  • Small microwave