News 6 is into the final stretch of a special back to school campaign at Publix and this year we're proud to be partnered with them to help A Gift for Teaching. It's happening in all Orange, Osceola and Seminole County Publix stores. A Gift for Teaching helps teachers who often spend as much as $500 to $1,000 of their own money on supplies to help children in need.
"If they work at a school where 60 percent of their students or more are on free and reduced lunch, every single teacher in that school can come to AGFT once a month for free. So we're impacting a lot of teachers, thousands of teachers," Marisa Worley, director of development for A Gift for Teaching, said.
And this year, teachers would have to spend more out of their own pockets, as the number of children in need in the tri-county area is up two percent to 216,000.
"The fact that Publix has come into play is going to be a game changer. The amount of supplies were going to be able to get through the viewers who are shopping at Publix is going to be incredible. It's going to make sure we can stock our shelves the entire school year with those essential supplies those teachers need," Worley said.
Your gift of $5 or more also gets you a free reusable shopping tote bag. There are just a few days left to donate at Publix. The campaign ends Aug. 17.