Holding a handmade paper chain instead of the traditional red ribbon, Jane Thompson, A Gift For Teaching president; Lisa Dangel, store manager, A Gift For Teaching – Seminole; and Eric Geboff, executive director of The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools officially opened A Gift For Teaching – Seminole, the newest Free Store satellite, which will offer school supplies to Seminole County teachers for free.
The Sanford facility joins A Gift For Teaching of Osceola County and the original A Gift For Teaching (AGFT) located in Orange County in an effort to supply teachers from 324 low-income public schools in the tri-county area with much needed supplies and incentives for their students.
AGFT’s biggest challenge had been establishing a location closer to Seminole County teachers so they wouldn’t have to drive all the way to south Orange County for supplies. “The hardest part was getting the [Seminole County] teachers into our store,” said Ms. Thompson. “We just weren’t seeing a lot of them, which is why I think the new location will have a huge, huge impact.”
Beginning Saturday, March 13, Seminole County teachers will now have access to a new outlet for school supplies right in their own county. The 2200 square foot facility occupies Seminole County School Board property located at 1780 W. Airport Blvd. in Sanford.
Although Seminole County is home to more wealthy neighborhoods than Osceola or Orange, approximately 40-percent of the district’s students are eligible for the free and reduced-price lunch program – a factor AGFT uses when determining if a school is eligible to shop at its Free Store.
A Gift For Teaching
A Gift For Teaching is a Central Florida non-profit organization that serves 324 public schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. The Free Store in Orlando and its satellite stores, A Gift For Teaching of Osceola County and A Gift For Teaching - Seminole, are funded and stocked by local individuals and companies. Since 1998, more than $48 million worth of school supplies, including essential classroom tools such as pencils, notebooks, glue, backpacks, art supplies, books and more have been distributed to local students in need, diverting more than 8.1 million pounds of products from landfills.
The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Inc.
Established in 1986, the Foundation raises funds to further enhance the superior performance of students and teachers in Seminole County Public Schools. Funds raised and supplies collected help support programs such as scholarships, classroom grants, recognition and rewards for students and teachers in Seminole County. For more information, please contact Foundation executive director Eric Geboff at 407-320-0180 or eric_geboff@scps.us.
Contact Information
A Gift For Teaching
6501 Magic Way, Bldg. 400C
Orlando, FL 32809
407-318-3123
www.agiftforteaching.org
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