Submitted Photo Riverside Elementary teachers and administrative staff are pictured following a presentation of twenty $50 gift cards from Walmart that will be used toward the purchase of items for students who don’t have the financial means to buy their own.

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Rachel Dove-Baldwin

Staff Writer

WEST WILLIAMSON — Representatives of the Walmart Corporation were on hand last week to present a group of Mingo County educators with 20 gift cards that may be used to purchase items that will be used in the classrooms to better equip them to meet the needs of their students.

The press release from the giant retailer that was read during the presentation is as follows:

“At Walmart, we believe in operating as a global company and giving back to every local community where we do business. We are committed to helping people live better by addressing where we do business. In 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation made a historic $2 billion commitment to help end hunger in America which includes support for backpacks and summer and afterschool feeding programs for kids. Our continuing support for our nation’s students and teachers is why we are here at Riverside today.”

“Your local Walmart wanted to take this opportunity to thank and to acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice of the teachers at Riverside Elementary. We realize that the teachers care for our children and treat them as their own and we understand that in these challenging times, educators across this country continue to provide for their students out of their pockets to maximize the students learning experience.”

“Whether it’s a child who needs a pencil because his is a stub or a child who cannot learn because she is hungry and cannot concentrate, we know that the teachers use their own money to meet the needs of those children so they can learn. Walmart wants to help offset the money that you spend out of your own pockets for classroom supplies during this back-to-school season. To do that, we have launched the fourth Annual ‘Teacher Rewards Program’ which will provide 4.5 million dollars to 90,000 teachers across the United States this fall.”

“Today, 20 teachers at Riverside Elementary were honored by receiving $50.00 ‘Teachers Rewards Card’ that can be used to purchase the classroom supplies that the teacher and their students need to start the school year off right.”

The teachers and administrative staff at Riverside Elementary asked to say a special thank you to Walmart for the generous donation of gift cards that will be a tremendous help in offsetting costs of student supplies for those who cannot afford them.

“Our students will greatly benefit from this donation,” stated Robin Griffey, a member of the Riverside faculty. “At our school the needs of the children come first and these gift cards will help us supply items for students who are not financially able to make the purchases for themselves.”