SOUTHMAYD, Tex. -- A teacher's classroom is often his or her second home. Many of them collect priceless items over the years. For some teachers in Southmayd, those items were destroyed in a matter of minutes last year.

Teachers say they are happy to pay for extra supplies out of their pockets, but they hope the money is stretched a little farther when community members adopt their classrooms.

It was an unforgettable sight. The wind ripped the roof off S&S Elementary in a storm last May.

"It was devastating. It was literally on top of the desks, everything that was out was ruined by water," says Linda Mitchusson a second grade teacher at S&S for the last 23 years.

This year she had to start rebuilding her classroom from scratch. Even before the storm, Mitchusson estimates she spends hundreds of dollars out of her own pocket each year.

"This week we're reading Blueberries for Sal so we're having blueberry muffins. Last week, we read Thundercakes so we have chocolate thundercakes."

The roof is repaired at S&S, but teachers are rebuilding their classroom materials inside. School officials say this rural district does not have the tax base from large businesses that other districts do. That's where the Adopt-a-Classroom program comes in.

"This is their way of being a direct help in a classroom and being an adopter if they don't have the time to spend in the school that way, they can help in other ways," says Terry Martin, school principal.

"I think we deserve the same educational opportunities as larger districts," says Lane Lancaster, a fifth grade student.

Lancaster says the science lab could use new beakers, and more up-to-date equipment.

Teachers get 100 percent of the money from this national program. Donors can see how their contributions are put to use.

"When you're doing a budget those kinds of intangibles don't really fit into a budget you're presenting in September," Mitchusson says.

Several other area schools participate in the program, including Sherman, Denison, and Durant.

School officials say the easiest way is to contact the school to help.

Click the link below to visit the adopt a classroom website.