A GIFT FOR TEACHING

We are quickly approaching the time of year when students will be returning to school, but there are many who begin the year without the supplies they need.

When we think about the school year beginning, for many, it can be exciting; for others it can be somewhat stressful.

More than 200 educators had the chance to shop for school supplies free of charge at Orange County’s A Gift for Teaching on Tuesday.

Here's how you can help students this school year.

About 20,000 children in Orange and Osceola counties are ready to start the school year with backpacks full of essential supplies thanks to the efforts of A Gift For Teaching.

News 6 is teaming up with A Gift For Teaching to make sure Central Florida families, students and teachers are prepared for the school year.

A Gift For Teaching gave three Orange County students the opportunity to shop for free during its yearly “Grant a Wish” event on Friday.

Walt Disney World recently surprised 12 non-profits with a $1 million donation, furthering its mission to help the Central Florida community even more.

Disney cast members collected all sorts of school supplies from dry erase markers to notebooks as part of a monthlong back-to-school drive.

Workers with A Gift For Teaching took out pallets with big boxes full of new bookbags and delivered them to Walker Middle School in Orlando on Tuesday.

News 6 is teaming up again with A Gift For Teaching, Central Florida’s primary provider of free school supplies to teachers and students in Orange and Osceola counties.

Volunteers from several sponsors showed up again to continue packing thousands of bookbags for students in need.

More than 100 volunteers came out on Thursday for A Gift for Teaching’s “The Great Big Backpack Build” event to get students ready for back-to-school in August.

Since its founding, A Gift for Teaching said they’ve distributed more than $150 million worth of school supplies in more than 300 public schools in Orange and Osceola counties.

As Walt Disney World welcomes guests to its 50th anniversary celebration, the company continues to give back to the Central Florida community.

A Gift for Teaching’s Pencil Boy’s Express is back on school campuses after being on pause due to COVID-19.

News 6 teams up with A Gift for Teaching.

Walt Disney World cast members and "voluntEARS" were making magic at the "A Gift For Teaching" warehouse on Monday.

Teachers in Orange and Osceola counties can stock up on supplies.

Every year since 1998 the nonprofit A Gift for Teaching provides free school supplies to teachers and students.

According to the National Education Association, teachers spend an average of $500 a year on school supplies out of pocket.

With summer school enrollment nearly double from previous years, A Gift For Teaching gifted Orange County summer school teachers with supply kits and extra surprises for their dedication this past year.

A Central Florida nonprofit helping students and teachers prepare for the school year ahead will get a big boost with the help of matching funders doubling each donation of backpacks and supplies.

ORLANDO, Fla. News 6 is partnering with A Gift For Teaching to provide school supplies to students in need. On Thursday, August 27, volunteers will be on the phone accepting donations from viewers from 4-7:30 p.m.Viewers can donate during that time period or go to agiftforteaching.org/telethon to donate, starting now. Through matching funds, every $1 donated can be turned into $20 worth of school supplies. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the need for supplies is higher than usual.

Instead of teachers going inside shopping for their own supplies, it organized a curbside pickup to limit contact. The non-profit organization said there has been a 65% reduction in the number of companies running back-to-school supply drives. Drives they depend on to support teachers, many who pay out of pocket for supplies their students need to succeed. She said every dollar donated to the organization, is converted to $10 worth of school supplies distributed throughout the community. News 6 is hosting a phone bank next Aug. 27 between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to help support A Gift for Teaching.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Volunteers spent their Thursday morning stuffing backpacks for a great cause. More than 12,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to be distributed to students in underserved areas. Donated school supplies like notebook paper, pencils, and crayons are packed into backpacks to help students in underserved areas across Orange County. Were very grateful.The Great Big Backpack Build is an annual event hosted by A Gift For Teaching. Typically loud and bustling with hundreds of people stuffing backpacks, the event would normally last a day.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – It was an exciting day for teachers and students at Westside K-8 school on Friday. A Gift For Teaching launched Pencil Boy Express - Osceola n partnership with The Education Foundation – Osceola County and powered by Universal Orlando Foundation. On Friday, the van delivered about 100 boxes full of free school supplies. “There’s many times we don’t have anything and the nice thing is that now we can take advantage of the Pencil Boy Express,” Ulrich explained. The goal this year is to deliver even more supplies with the help of Pencil Boy Express hitting the road with deliveries in Osceola County.

ORLANDO, Fla. – This year the nonprofit A Gift For Teaching held its 8th annual Grant a Wish shopping spree allowing three Central Florida students a five-minute shopping spree in the school supply store. The nonprofit partners with other community organizations to provide $10,000 in school supplies for every $1 donated. As part of the A Gift for Teaching mission, the organization recently held its 8th annual Grant a Wish shopping spree for three deserving students this year. The Grant a Wish shopping spree's sponsors include Disney, Tupperware Brands, Publix, Salata, Cicis, Ben and Jerry's, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Universal Orlando, Walmart and the Crayola Experience. Anyone who would like to learn how to support A Gift For Teaching can click here.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Some lucky students are sorting through many shopping carts full of gifts from A Gift For Teaching’s 8th Annual Grant A Wish Event. Out of more than 80 students nominated by their teachers, it came down to three selected for the free shopping spree at A Gift For Teaching’s school supply store. Colonial High teacher Rachel Minnear, who nominated Kevin, said he chose to get items for his family members and peers. A special note: A Gift For Teaching is doubling its gift match for the rest of 2019. Every $1 donation gift now through Dec. 31will count for $20 instead of $10.

Some families barely have enough to feed their children, let alone provide them with school supplies. Because they care about their students' well-being, teachers in Orange County routinely dig into their own wallets to pay for supplies. Teachers and students need specific tools and supplies to preserve our future, help shape young minds and better the community. How to helpWhile helping out students and teachers with the supplies they need for school seems like an uphill battle, there are plenty of ways to pitch in. Last year alone, the WKMG News 6 Telethon raised more than $33,500, allowing the organization to provide local public schools with more than $670,500 in supplies.