Creativity often starts with something as simple as a box.

Picture yourself lifting the flap of a colorful container of crayons, releasing the nostalgic wax scent that opened a world of artistic expression years ago. Take a moment to envision the rainbow within for names that sparked your imagination: burnt sienna, goldenrod, cerulean, and fuchsia – all possibilities created from the basic primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.

Before a child even learns to write their first sentence, crayons are often a part of their first form of communication – helping to express who they are before spoken words. For some, a new box of crayons was a tradition to welcome each new school year. A celebration of the colorful future ahead.

But for many students in Central Florida, a new box of crayons is considered a luxury.

Our class was making cards for veterans on Veteran’s Day. Four of my kids were in a pull out program so they did not get to make a card in class. When they came back they were so upset that the activity was over…they really wanted to make a card.

I told them that they could make one at home and just bring it tomorrow. Two of them started crying. When I got to the bottom of it, they did not have any paper or crayons or markers to make a card at home. I gave them each a box of crayons from A Gift for Teaching, some construction paper, and they put it in their backpacks.

The next day I had 14 cards!! Little brother wanted to use the crayons, so he made a card. Mom and Grandma were so excited for a new box of crayons they each made a card. It was enlightening, I did not know that this was even a need at the time, and it was all due to a missed classroom writing assignment. – OCPS Teacher

When families stretch every dollar to cover housing, groceries, and other living costs, new school supplies often become a low priority expense. That means thousands of children arrive on the first day of school without the basic tools they need to learn, create, and participate with their peers.

That’s where you can make a difference!

A donation today does more than provide crayons. It gives a student the confidence to participate in class, the opportunity to discover their creativity, and the chance to start the year prepared to learn alongside their classmates with no hesitation.

But before teachers can inspire their students, they need the tools to teach. Throughout the school year, A Gift for Teaching equips teachers in the highest-need public schools with free classroom supplies that remove barriers to learning and helps a student unlock the magic within themselves.

Because the magic isn’t inside the box, it’s what happens when a child finally gets to open one.

This back-to-school season, your generous gift can put crayons, pencils, notebooks, and other essential supplies into the hands of students who need them most.