Teaching Tools Involving the Community

More than 95,000 (48%) students in Hillsborough County cannot afford lunch daily, much less school supplies and other tools necessary for learning. As a result, teachers spend an average of $1,000 out-of-pocket each year to help provide for their classroom and students. At the same time, companies and organizations are throwing out valuable supplies, such as old letterhead, pens and envelopes, which the teachers can use in their classroom. Example: When a company changes its name, Teaching Tools can reuse all old stationery, envelopes, pencils, pens, letterhead and other items, which are not useful to the company, but are valuable in the classroom!

Teachers and students face the challenge of not having all the tools necessary in the classroom. Teaching Tools mission is to provide basic supplies for free to teachers and students in need so that teachers can be as effective as possible and students have the opportunity to excel in their education.

As a conduit to fill the gap that exists between the students in need and the amount of supplies in the schools, Teaching Tools works to propel future generations of leaders for our community. We know the supplies provided to us for distribution make an enormous difference to at-risk students.

Teaching Tools currently serves 87 of the highest need Title-I schools and instructional sites throughout the district, which relays to more than 1,800 teachers who are eligible to shop monthly and 50,000 at-risk students receiving school supplies annually. To date, Teaching Tools has distributed more than $4.35 million worth of supplies! There are still 49 Title-I schools waiting to become eligible for Teaching Tools. As more supplies and funding become available, more schools will be invited to shop.

On an average shopping day, Teaching Tools will distribute $12,000-$15,000 worth of free product into the hands of teachers and students in need, with each teacher receiving an average of $250 worth of basic and creative supplies. The type of product Teaching Tools provides ranges from the basics, such as

• Pencils
• Pens
• Crayons
• Markers
• Glue
• colored pencils

to other learning resources needed, such as

• writing paper
• copy paper
• composition notebooks
• spiral notebooks
• folders
• backpacks
• personal care items
• new and used books
• children’s magazines
• incentive items
• arts and crafts

to surplus from community businesses, such as

• Outdated letterhead (wrong logo, name, address, etc)
• Stationery
• Desk ware
• Binders
• Staplers
• post-its
  

To help Stock the Store, click here. 
Want to help out Teaching Tools? Check out our Wish List!

If you have questions about product donations, please call (813) 740-7651.

There are many ways to help Teaching Tools!

Provide Financial Support
Teaching Tools would not continue to grow without the necessary financial support to operate the program. Teaching Tools has many opportunities for involvement from event sponsorship to Supply Store sponsorship to general program support. To learn more about how to help, call (813) 740-7651.

Host a Supply Drive
Supply drives are a simple and direct way to help the at-risk students Teaching Tools serves. We provide the flyers, information and boxes (if necessary) to get you started toward completing a successful supply drive. One suggestion Teaching Tools makes is to have a competition in your office between departments by assigning points to different supply items and see which department wins with the most points. To begin, call (813)740-7651 to get a supply drive kit.

One local company's supply drive was a HUGE success!


Donate surplus from your office
Through a partnership with the Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Department, Teaching Tools is working to provide more learning resources in the classroom while helping to divert business surplus from going to the landfills. Teaching Tools encourages businesses to donate office supplies from a renovation or closing down, as well as when a name, logo or address change causes letterhead, stationery, envelopes, pencils, promotional items or other valuable resources to be considered obsolete by the company. In the first year of the partnership, more than 60 tons of reusable business surplus was filtered back into classrooms via the Supply Store!

Need a pick-up? 

Teaching Tools does have limits on pick-up abilities, but we do work with a company called EconOffice Product & Supplies. EconOffice, in a volunteer capacity, helps Teaching Tools with corporate pick-ups. To learn more about how you can donate to Teaching Tools and get your supplies picked up through the eZ-Pickup Program, log onto http://www.ez-pickup.org/. If you have the ability to deliver your donation, it is greatly appreciated!  

Attend a Lunch ‘n’ Learn
The Lunch ‘n’ Learn, a Bright House Networks’ Spotlight on Education program, provides an overview of the Teaching Tools program and a tour of the Supply Store while at the same time answering your questions about how you can become involved. The program is from 12-1 pm on select Tuesdays of each month. We encourage you to sign up to attend this free informational program and to bring a friend…or two! Call (813) 740-7651 to sign up!

Cartridges for Crayons Program
Do you know what happens to used printer cartridges at your work?

Teaching Tools’ innovative program Cartridges for Crayons provides businesses an opportunity to not only recycle their used printer cartridges, but provide financial contributions to our program year-round. How do you get involved? It’s as easy as 1-2-3…all you have to do is save empty Laser and Inkjet Printer Cartridges instead of throwing them away or returning them to the manufacturer.

Did you know that every second in the United States approximately 8 printer cartridges are thrown away?

Through Teaching Tools’ partnership with A Smart Choice of Florida, companies can schedule pick-ups of their cartridge donations free of charge through Tina Pietryzk. To schedule a pickup or to have questions answered, please contact Tina at (813) 625-9450. Since the beginning of last year alone, A Smart Choice of Florida has helped to divert more than 6 tons of used cartridges from going to the landfills!

Volunteer Your Time
As Robert Waterman said, “Every time people can contribute successfully to the cause of serving community, they become even more committed to it.”

“I enjoy working at the ‘Supply Store’ and am jealous this idea was not around during my teaching days.” – Sandy, volunteer

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Teaching Tools. It takes a team of dedicated volunteers to keep Teaching Tools running smoothly and efficiently. We provide a fun and dynamic atmosphere to volunteers of all ages to help:

• Sort donations
• Stock shelves
• Assist shoppers with check-in and check-out procedures
• Assist with office work when necessary
• Assist with special events

Volunteers preferably need to be 15+ and select special permission is required for volunteer groups with participants under age 15.

To learn more, call (813) 740-7651.

For directions to Teaching Tools, please click here.
Phone (813) 740-7651
Fax (813) 740-7654

“I’ve taught in three states and have never been so lucky as to have such a wonderful teacher resource. Most teachers don’t make enough money to afford to buy all they would like for their students and classroom. Teaching Tools is truly offering an invaluable service to our children.”
Tamara Muller, Teacher at Palm River Elementary

“I thank you for giving my art teacher crayons, colored pencils, paper, tape and folders. You are working hard. I appreciate it. I love you. You are helpful. I will never forget what you did for us.”
Angelica, Student

“The kind of world we live in tomorrow depends – not partially – but entirely upon the type and quality of the education of our children today.”
Martin Vanbee

“Sharing our supplies with Teaching Tools is an easy, hands on way to give back to the community. Our Rotary Club has conducted collection drives among our members, local businesses and even store sales. Knowing that we are helping children learn and giving them something they can call their own is very rewarding. The thank you notes and drawings are wonderful.”
Steven Brown, President, Rotary Club of Brandon South  

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