ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s back to school in Central Florida, and WKMG-TV is again teaming up with A Gift for Teaching to help Central Florida families, students and teachers.
A Gift for Teaching is Central Florida’s primary provider of free school supplies to teachers and students in Orange and Osceola counties.
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The effort helps children succeed and provides for teachers so they don’t have to pay out of their own pockets.
Here’s how you can help:
- Donate: For every $1 received, A Gift For Teaching can provide up to $10 worth of supplies to teachers and their students. Click here to make a donation online.
The numbers:
• A Gift for Teaching (AGFT) supports all public schools in Orange and Osceola counties.
• More than 70% of schools are considered high need in Central Florida.
• Teachers report 59% of students arrived without all the necessary supplies for class on the 1st day of school.
• Teachers who shop at AGFT bring an average of $450 worth of free supplies back to their classrooms each month.
• Open the entire school year, AGFT distributes more than $82,480 worth of supplies daily.
• Since 1998, more than $187 million worth of supplies have been distributed.
• Orange County Public Schools is the 8th largest school district in the U.S., with more than 208,000 students and 14,000 instructional staff.
The Why
• Thousands of local students are starting the new school year without all the supplies they need to succeed.
• Even though digital learning, essential supplies like pencils and notebooks are still used to complete assignments.
• Lack of access to supplies deeply impacts a student’s participation in class, interest in learning, and self-esteem.
• Teachers will often purchase supplies for their classrooms and students out of their own pockets to create a more equal learning environment and increase the variety and scope of projects for students.
Other FAQs
• AGFT serves Orange and Osceola County public schools. Any other counties can be supported by reaching out to their local school board foundation. Seminole County School Board Foundation operates their own free store, Tools 4 Seminole Schools. More information can be found on their website.
• Florida Lottery revenue goes toward school recognition awards, for “A” schools and those that rise one letter or more, and the School Advisory Committee at every school to implement school improvement programs.