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Amazon Surprises Some Teachers With $10K Of School Supplies

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It was a special delivery and a complete surprise. Amazon made a generous visit to a Baltimore City school on Thursday.

It's only the first week of school, and some teachers are already reaching into their own pockets to buy school supplies. Amazon is hoping to change that, WJZ's Amy Yensi reports.

Kareem Conaway is grateful for his eighth grade English teacher.

"Mr. Glemaker is a great teacher. He's like one of the best teachers I've ever had," said Conaway.

Like many teachers across the country, Ethan Glemaker is willing to open his own wallet to help his students succeed. This year, he won't have to.

Amazon, honoring the wishlist of every single teacher at Holabird Academy, surprised teachers and students with $10,000 worth of school supplies.

"I had students start writing in their journals, and several of them didn't have it, and I usually fund that out of my own pocket. So this is really terrific, knowing that's an expense that I don't have to buy this year," said Glemaker.

From printers and jump ropes to microscopes and Play-Doh, the donation will go a long way. According to the National Education Association, the average teacher spends anywhere from $400 to $1,500 on school supplies each year.

Eric Powell helps run Amazon's Baltimore distribution center. He is helping with the classroom deliveries.

"Everything they need for a successful school year, a school year full of inspiration and creativity and imagination," said Powell.

The world's largest online retailer started as a bookstore, so it's donating an extra $10,000 to Reading Partners, a volunteer tutor program.

Even though the delivery was technically for the teachers, the students were even more excited. They're promising to make good use of the supplies.

For more information on the Reading Partners program, CLICK HERE.

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