If you were to visit the Teaching Tools Supply Store on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon, you would meet Sharon and Hal Hogan.  Sharon, a retired teacher, was already familiar with the program from her extensive career with the county's Title I schools.  Before the program, Sharon and Hal were spending almost $1500 every year on supplies for her classroom.  "When we'd buy things for my classroom, I'd slip them in with the grocery money," she recalls.  Now Sharon values the time she is able to spend giving back to the program that helped her and her students so much.  "Teaching Tools was here when I needed it when I was a teacher.  So now I'm on the other side of the table and I'm giving back, and I think that's important.  And it's even better because now my husband comes to volunteer."

As a teacher's husband, Hal has been involved in education for years, even though he never had a classroom of his own.  Even without a personal connection to the field, he finds his time at the store equally rewarding.  "I enjoy it tremendously," he says, "All the people that come here are always so happy, so grateful that it's available to them."  Being retired, they know they can be picky with how they spend their time.  And they make a point to only volunteer at places that make them happy.  "If this wasn't fun," says Hal, "I wouldn't be doing it.

The store volunteers and shoppers enjoy having Sharon and Hal around just as much as they enjoy being there.  The couple has become infamous for their collection of holiday hats.  "People who come here have been working all day and they're physically drained," explains Sharon, "If we can make them smile, that helps.  It's gotten to the point now where if there is a holiday when we don't wear hats, they ask why."  Hal adds, "It's expected now, and I take great pride in that."

Click here to find out more about the Teaching Tools Supply Store.

Spotlight on a Supply Store Volunteer

For 38 years Melissa taught in elementary school classrooms.  Though she retired from the school district last year, her love of working in education did not.  Melissa volunteers with the school in which she taught, and with Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools.  She has volunteered for Teaching Tools for the past two years and loves to be around people, and see old friends and other familiar faces.  "[It's] fun to do a free store instead of dealing with money," she says, "[It] keeps you busy."

Melissa believes it is important for people to volunteer in their community because it keeps their minds occupied and keeps them healthy, both physically and mentally.  "You feel like you are part of something, while giving back to the community," she explains.  What advice does Melissa have for anyone planning on pursuing a volunteer opportunity?  "Make sure you volunteer some place you really enjoy.  You should always believe in the cause."

Want to volunteer with the Hillsborough Education Foundation?  Click here!

I believe I speak for our group as a whole when I say that our experience volunteering for Teaching Tools afforded us insight into an organization which we previously knew little about.  Objects and materials which we use in our everyday jobs and which many of us take for granted (i.e. pencils, notebooks, copier paper, etc...) are very valuable materials for teachers.  As was pointed out to our group, many educational programs are underfunded, and devoted teachers use their own funds to purchase materials for their students, but are also most of the times limited to what they can purchase by their own personal budgets.

Volunteer, Pender Newkirk & Company

You too can volunteer at the Teaching Tools Supply Store!  Click here to find out more.