Teachers at Littleville Elementary School selecting items for their classrooms. Four boxes of school supplies and twenty $50 gift cards were donated by Walmart. (Photo submitted)
On Wednesday, September 12, Michael Pflanz of Walmart visited Littleville Elementary School and presented the staff with over $1200 in gift cards and school supplies, through the company’s Teacher Rewards program. Pflanz is an assistant manager with the Westfield store.
“Every year, teachers across the country provide their time, talents and often their own money to ensure students have what they need to be successful in the classroom,” said Michelle Gilliard, senior director of giving at Walmart. “Through our Teacher Rewards program we will once again send our nation’s teachers back to school with the support and resources they need to continue educating the future leaders of our country.”
Margaret Messler, who helps run the Teachers Reward Program in the Westfield Walmart store, explained that the store associates vote each year to determine which area school would benefit from this year’s Teachers Rewards program.
“We’ve dealt with Gateway in the past with other programs,” she said. “And they’ve always been so appreciative of things like this.”
John Morgan, Littleville’s adjustment counselor, was tasked with setting up an opportunity for Pflanz to visit the school and distribute the rewards. “When we gathered in the foyer during the last 15 minutes of our staff meeting, the teachers had no idea,” Morgan said. “They were all very excited about it.”
He reported that each classroom teacher received a $50 card, as well as the art department, phys ed., opportunity center and school nurse.
Walmart has over 4,600 stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations in the United States, which are each eligible to select one local K-8 public school and provide $50 reward cards to teachers. Winning teachers can use the funds to purchase essential items for their classrooms, such as paper, folders, binders, clipboards, pens, pencils, crayons and markers.
Along with the gift cards, Walmart also donated 4 large boxes of school supplies (notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons, markers, erasers and more) to be divided up between the staff to use in their classrooms.
