I am a teacher for Orange County Public Schools, and LOVE A Gift For Teaching (AGFT)! This past year I have been located at a high school where about 80% of the students are on free and reduced lunch, and A Gift For Teaching has allowed me to get supplies for my students without having to spend too much of my own money!
Since I work at such an impoverished school, all teachers at my school are able to shop at AGFT once a month. However, Higher income schools can only send one assigned representative (for the whole school) per month, where as other schools that are declared Title I, may have additional shopping privileges. If you are a teacher and need to find out if you're able to shop at AGFT you will need to contact them directly or see if your school is listed on their website.
Exactly what do you find at AGFT, and how does it work? Each teacher is given a checklist as they register at the front desk they shop around the store and tick off the items they place in their cart. Teachers are only allowed to get a certain amount of each item as quantities are limited. For example each time I have gone to AGFT I am allowed to get approximately 4 Glue Sticks, and 2 bundles of pencils (each bundle contains 12), and two packs of filler paper etc. As for what type of things the store carries? Mostly school and art supplies donated by local businesses. Also, discarded office equipment, surplus, or antiquated office materials donated by local companies (I once brought home a huge pile of Dot Matrix printer paper). Other random things they carry are flashcards, and paper products (i.e. journals, cut outs, paper letters) made by local inmates in the prison system. They also carry donated books, and donated merchandise and promotional items from local businesses including Sea World and The Orlando Magic. Aside from the usual supplies and fun incentives for kids they also have items like clothes, under wear, socks, and snacks. Believe it or not there are families out there that cannot afford to buy ANY of these basics for their kids :(
If you are a local business...no matter how small think twice before discarding anything! teachers can put any of your old supplies to good use in the classroom (i.e. old letter head/labels, old bags, envelopes etc.)! And if you're a local business looking to give aways some money....think about AGFT!!!! And if you're a regular Joe consider volunteering or donating your used books! read more