CHICAGO (WLS) -- Many teachers and students and students in Chicago are gearing up for the start of the new school year next week, but getting necessary classroom supplies can be pricey.
But some teachers have become creative in raising the money the need to stock their classrooms.
The weeks leading up to the start of school are the high season for Chicago Teacher, Inc., a teacher supply store in the city's Bucktown neighborhood.
It's also a time when teachers dig deep into their wallets, using their own money to buy decorations and supplies for their classrooms, costs that can really add up.
It's estimated that a teacher can spend an average of $500 per year on supplies.
Many teachers have taken to crowdfunding to help offset the cost of back-to-school. They appeal for donations on websites like GoFundMe.com or DonorsChoose.org, where anyone can donate any amount of money.
Even though more and more teachers are turning to crowdfunding, they still have a good chance at being successful. DonorsChoose.org says that more than seven out of 10 teachers who use the website are successful.