Salisbury, MD — The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce (SACC) extends its sincere appreciation to the dozens of businesses, organizations, and volunteers whose generosity made the 2026 Welcome New Teacher Bags Program another outstanding success.
Each year, the Chamber partners with the local business community to welcome educators who are new to Wicomico County’s public and private schools by providing bags filled with gifts, school supplies, local discounts, restaurant certificates, community information, and other useful resources to help them feel at home on Delmarva.
200 welcome bags were assembled this summer and distributed to newly hired teachers before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
“The Welcome New Teacher Bags Program is a wonderful example of what makes our business community so special,” said Bill Chambers, President/CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our members understand the important role educators play in shaping the future workforce of our region, and they consistently step forward to ensure these teachers receive a warm Delmarva welcome. We are grateful to every business, organization, and volunteer who helped make this year’s program possible.”
The Chamber offers special recognition to Paula Nichols, owner of Motif Expressions Promotional Products and a Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, who once again coordinated the annual program. Nichols worked with Chamber members and community partners throughout the summer to organize donations, coordinate logistics, and oversee the successful assembly of the welcome bags.
The Chamber also thanks Pohanka of Salisbury Automotive for its continued generosity in providing the attractive reusable bags that have become the signature of the Welcome New Teacher Bags Program each year.
Volunteers gathered at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce office to pack the bags for distribution. The Chamber extends its appreciation to:
- Deirdra Johnson, Wor-Wic Community College
- Ebony Smith, Burke & Herbert Bank
- Jeff Merritt, Operation We Care
- Bonnie Ennis, Wicomico County Board of Education
- Bev Yurek, Wicomico Retired School Personnel Association
- Debbie Bounds, Sigrid Velez Nelson, Bill and Cindy Chambers, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
The success of the program is made possible through the generosity of Chamber members and community organizations that donated promotional items, gift cards, educational resources, school supplies, coupons, and other gifts for the teachers.
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce gratefully recognizes the following businesses and organizations for supporting the 2026 Welcome New Teacher Bags Program:
- 47 ABC – WMDT
- Apple Discount Drugs
- Bagel Bakery Café Salisbury
- Burke & Herbert Bank
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Chick-fil-A South Salisbury
- Chimes International
- Community Players of Salisbury
- Eastern Shore Core Reformer Pilates
- Faith Over Fear Economic Empowerment Inc.
- Farmers Bank of Willards
- First Financial of Maryland Federal Credit Union
- GiveSendGo
- Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County
- Hebron Savings Bank
- Hertrich Buick GMC of Salisbury
- InSite l BUILD
- Jennifer Seay Photography
- JoJo’s Family Restaurant
- Karen Davis – State Farm Agent
- Kind SBY
- KRISPY KRUNCHY CHICKEN
- Long & Foster
- Minuteman Press Salisbury
- Motif Expressions
- NEXT UP Nutrition
- Nock Insurance Agency, Inc.
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Olive Garden
- PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Georgetown
- The Payne Team of Remax Advantage Realty
- Pelaton Knife Sharpening
- Perdue Farms
- Playa Bowls Salisbury
- PRIME Nutrition
- Salisbury University
- Sam’s Club
- Soul Yoga
- Spice Bazaar
- Staples
- TidalHealth
- Two Scoops Ice Cream & Waffles
- Village at Snowfield
- Wor-Wic Community College
“The Welcome New Teacher Bags Program demonstrates the strong partnership between the business community and education,” Chambers added. “By working together, we are helping new educators feel connected to our community from the moment they arrive. We hope these teachers not only enjoy a successful school year but also discover all that Delmarva has to offer and choose to make this region their home.”
The Welcome New Teacher Bags Program has become an annual Chamber tradition that reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting education, strengthening community partnerships, and promoting the quality of life throughout the Delmarva region.
For more information about the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and its events and community programs, visit www.salisburyarea.com.
