Teacher Appreciation Week 2019: Comprehensive Guide to Free Food Offers and Discounts for Educators

Teacher Appreciation Week 2019, observed from May 6 through May 10, provided a variety of complimentary food items and discounts for educators, school staff, and administrative personnel across the United States. Numerous restaurant chains and food service providers participated in this annual observance, offering promotions designed to recognize the contributions of teachers. Access to these offers generally required proof of employment, such as a valid school identification card or documentation verifying faculty status. Participation policies and specific offer details varied by location, with many promotions available only at participating establishments.

Several national and regional chains structured their promotions around specific days within the week, most notably Tuesday, May 7, which served as the focal point for many freebies. Offers ranged from complimentary breakfast items and beverages to full-course meals and buffet access. In addition to free food, some providers extended percentage-based discounts on purchases made during the observance period. The following sections detail the specific offers available during Teacher Appreciation Week 2019, organized by provider.

Restaurant Chains Offering Free Food and Discounts

7-Eleven

7-Eleven offered a promotion valid through May 21, 2019, allowing customers to purchase small coffees, medium cold brews, and medium slurpees for one dollar. While this offer was available to the general public, it was highlighted as a convenient option for educators during the appreciation week.

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar

Applebee's promoted a "Neighbor of the Year" campaign during May 2019, featuring a beverage offer. Throughout the month of May, customers could purchase margaritas for one dollar. This offer was available to anyone, though it was specifically promoted to teachers as part of the appreciation initiatives.

Arby's

Arby's offered a promotion specifically for teachers and school staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. However, the provided source material did not specify the exact nature of the discount or free item associated with the Arby's brand during this period.

Bruegger's Bagels

Bruegger's Bagels provided a free medium coffee with any purchase to teachers and school staff who presented a valid school ID. This offer was valid at participating locations from May 6 through May 10, 2019. Additionally, Bruegger's offered a discount on group orders during the same period, allowing customers to receive ten dollars off any group order of seventy-five dollars or more by using the promo code TENOFF75 at checkout on brueggers.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings extended a 20 percent discount to teachers who dined in at participating locations. This offer was valid from May 6 through May 10, 2019.

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A locations offered distinct free food items for teachers on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, though participation varied by specific location. Educators were advised to contact their nearest location or check local Facebook pages for confirmation of participation.

Morning Offer: Participating locations provided free Chick-n-Minis (four count) from opening until 10:30 a.m.
Afternoon Offer: Participating locations provided a free Chicken Sandwich from 10:30 a.m. until closing.
Eligibility: A valid school ID was required to redeem the offer. Some reports indicated that the offer was limited to one entree per educator.

Chipotle

Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one free deal for teachers, faculty, and school staff on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. The promotion was valid from 3:00 p.m. until closing time. Eligible items included burritos, burrito bowls, salads, and orders of tacos. The free item had to be of equal or lesser value than the purchased item. This offer was valid at all U.S. Chipotle locations but was restricted to orders placed in the restaurant; it was not available through the Chipotle app.

Cicis

Cicis offered a free adult buffet to teachers and administrative staff on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. This offer was valid for dine-in only and required a valid school ID. Some sources noted that offers at Cicis locations could vary by store, so verification with the local manager was recommended.

Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery was listed among the participating chains during Teacher Appreciation Week 2019. However, the provided source material did not specify the exact offer details for this brand.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen offered a discount via their mobile app during the appreciation period. Customers could receive two dollars off any mobile app purchase of at least ten dollars. This offer was valid through May 12, 2019, and was available to anyone, though it was highlighted for teachers.

The Greene Turtle

The Greene Turtle offered a fourteen-dollar dine-in meal for free to teachers presenting a valid school ID. This offer was valid on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Mod Pizza

Mod Pizza offered a buy-one-get-one free deal on pizzas or salads on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. This offer was available to teachers and school staff with a valid school ID.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Raising Cane's offered teachers and faculty one free Box Combo on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. The offer was valid from 6:00 p.m. onward and required the presentation of a current school ID.

Salata

Salata offered a buy-one-get-one free offer on salads or wraps on Friday, May 10, 2019. Teachers who presented a valid school ID received a salad or wrap of equal or lesser value for free when purchasing a full-priced salad or wrap.

SONIC Drive-In

SONIC Drive-In offered teachers and other customers a free Route 44 Drink or Slush when ordering ahead in the SONIC app. The promo code TEACHERS was required, and the offer was valid with any purchase. This promotion ran from Tuesday, May 7, through Friday, May 31, 2019.

Non-Food Promotions and Competitions

Robo

Robo launched a competition during Teacher Appreciation Week 2019 aimed at helping teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms. Students or teachers could enter the competition by filling out a form and explaining why the teacher deserved to win. The specific prize was not detailed in the source material.

Eligibility and Verification Requirements

Access to the majority of Teacher Appreciation Week offers was restricted to individuals employed within the education sector. Eligible participants generally included: * Teachers * School faculty * School staff members * Administrative personnel * Homeschooling parents (for select offers)

Proof of eligibility was almost universally required. The most common form of verification was a valid school ID card. For homeschooling parents, documentation identifying the individual as a faculty member or home school ID card was suggested as acceptable proof.

Geographic and Location-Specific Considerations

While many of the brands listed are national chains, the availability of specific offers often depended on the participation of individual franchise owners or locations. Several sources emphasized the importance of verifying participation before attempting to redeem an offer.

Chick-fil-A: Specific locations in the Greater Triangle Area (North Carolina) and Gardendale, Alabama, were mentioned as participating, but participation was described as "up to each store."
Cicis: Offers were noted to vary from store to store, with customers encouraged to check with local managers.
Chipotle: The offer was valid at all U.S. locations, but the restriction to in-store orders applied universally.

Consumers were generally advised to call ahead to specific locations to ensure the promotions were being honored and to confirm any additional requirements.

Conclusion

Teacher Appreciation Week 2019 offered a broad selection of free food items and discounts from a diverse range of restaurant chains, including quick-service restaurants, casual dining establishments, and specialty food providers. The majority of high-value offers, such as free entrees and buffets, were concentrated on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Participation was contingent upon the presentation of valid school identification, and availability varied by specific franchise location. Educators seeking to utilize these offers were advised to verify local participation and prepare appropriate identification prior to visiting participating establishments.