Not sure where to post this one - mods feel free to move.

In order to get required CC spending up a bit, I bought a bunch of Arco gift cards that I noticed at my local Rite-Aid store, for my teenager to use.
(I myself drive an EV, so no gas purchase ever required).

Low and behold, the teenager, after using one of two cards I gave him for the first time - throws away the wrong one which was still loaded with the full amount and holds on to the empty one

The card as purchased is divided in two parts, the upper part to be scanned in the store for purchase and the lower part has the "swipe-strip" and to be broken off the upper part.
Teenager threw out the bottom part with the strip.

Not familiar with the use of these cards, I called the number on the back and was told that the card portion left was unusable.
When I supplied her with the correct card number - as listed on the upper portion - she could confirm tho that the full balance was still intact.

An Arco gas station attendant told me: NOPE - cannot be used.

Is there anything else I can try and recover the balance of the unused card ?
Perhaps someone else has encountered the same issue and knows what to do ?

Thanks so much for any response.