I never did either. I would ask the teacher or coach what they wanted out of it for themselves and I'd write a personal check to the teacher or coach. I don't care if they buy a beer for themselves or a jock strap for an athlete whose family has no money. In my experience (wife is a public school teacher and I taught in a JuCo) teachers and coaches spend out of their own pocket more than they admit to themselves.

One year I kept-up with my wife's personal spending on school items. It was over $1,000 and that was a decade ago. She ain't no saint, ya'll. She sees something that would make her life better in the classroom and knows the school has no budget for it so she buys it. A credenza here, an instructional video there, water colors, a partial roll of newsprint, supplies for needy students, etc. It adds up.

B