It’s not “just a pencil.” It’s an opportunity.

This year, the National Retail Federation released a staggering statistic: Families can plan to spend a NEW record average of $864 for back-to-school shopping this year, with 38% planning to cut back in other areas of spending to cover the cost of items as inflation continues to rise. But so many families in our community are already feeling stretched to the limit.

With the help of generous businesses and groups, this is where A Gift for Teaching is able to step in to support our students and teachers.

More than 70% of schools in Central Florida are considered high-need, and our teachers share that more than half of their students arrive at class without all the necessary school supplies on the first day of school. Knowing this, teachers will then often purchase supplies out of their own pockets to ensure every child in their class has an equal opportunity to start the school year with success.

Every pencil collected and dollar raised in our Back-to-School Drive will help alleviate this burden on our teachers.

Teachers who shop at A Gift for Teaching often bring an average value of $650 worth of free supplies back to their classrooms for students who need them most. Open throughout the entire school year, eligible teachers have the opportunity to shop every month for free educational resources at a store, online, or through a mobile unit.

But the school year just started, and our work is only beginning!

You can continue to empower teachers and inspire future leaders every month by becoming a member of The Honor Roll. With your commitment to an automatic recurring $25 monthly gift, three classrooms can continue to have access to essential supplies a year!