With generous donations from Williams Sonoma, the StartUp Academy was able to give away “swag bags” full of homegoods and treats to the staff for “Teacher Appreciation Week” on Friday, May 10th.
According to StartUp teacher Ms. Ly, Williams Sonoma, the luxury retail store—which the academy has partnered with before—reached out about plans to give back to the community for Teacher Appreciation Week. They eventually came up with a plan to give school staff bags which included reusable paper cloths, fruit gummies, extra virgin olive oil, seasoning, cookies, and two variations of snack mix.
When asked about why StartUp decided to help facilitate the giveaway for teachers, senior Connie H. said, “We love seeing the teachers’ reactions and their happiness because we truly don’t thank them enough for their work,” sharing how it’s important to give back to the community and recognize the work teachers’ put into their students’ education.
“It was a nice generous surprise,” said math teacher Ms. Juan when asked about her thoughts on the giveaway, adding, “it had something for everyone and really makes me feel special and appreciated.”
In the past, Williams Sonoma has partnered and donated furniture and other supplies to StartUp, helping the business-focused pathway with hosting thrift shops and different events to give back to the community.
