Every August, teachers spend hours preparing their classrooms for a new group of students. Along the way, many also purchase additional supplies with their own money to make sure students have the tools they need to learn and succeed.
That reality inspired this summer’s Teacher Supply Drive at B.T. Washington Elementary School in Tampa, where ReEmployAbility employees came together to help stock classrooms ahead of the new school year.
How a Conversation with Teachers Inspired ReEmployAbility’s Teacher Supply Drive
ReEmployAbility has partnered with B.T. Washington Elementary on previous community initiatives, including food and clothing drives for students and their families. During one of those visits, team members learned that many teachers regularly purchase classroom supplies with their own funds and often contribute to the school’s HOPE Lab when donations run low.
The HOPE Lab serves as a resource room for students and families who may need additional support throughout the school year. Hearing how teachers stepped up to help both their classrooms and the resource room inspired a new opportunity to support the school.
For Lindsey Bressi, Nonprofit Network Coordinator, that conversation remained top of mind. “During one of our earlier visits to B.T. Washington, a teacher mentioned she puts her own money toward things like markers and folders every year. That stuck with me.”
What began as a conversation eventually became this year’s supply drive.
How ReEmployAbility Employees Collected School Supplies for Tampa Teachers
In early July, ReEmployAbility set up a collection station at their company’s ‘Values Wall’ and gave each team its own donation box.
Before filing them, teams took time to decorate their boxes, turning the collection effort into a friendly and creative competition. Over the following weeks, employees donated supplies requested by teachers, including pencils, erasers, Expo markers, composition and spiral notebooks, folders, glue sticks, scissors, highlighters, tissues, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitizer.
As the donations continued to arrive, the growing collection became a visible reminder of how quickly people can come together when they see an opportunity to support their community.
CEO Debra Livingston said the team’s enthusiasm reflected the kind of connections ReEmployAbility strives to build. “I love that our team didn’t need to be asked twice to step up for the teachers at B.T. Washington. Supplies, time, and thoughtfulness, it all adds up, and it’s exactly the kind of community connection we hope to be part of here.”
The Impact of ReEmployAbility’s Teacher Supply Drive
By the end of the drive, employees had filled eight large boxes with classroom supplies. The donations were delivered to B.T. Washington Elementary just ahead of the new school year and will be distributed directly to classrooms and the school’s HOPE Lab.
Seeing the final collection come together was one of the most rewarding parts of the effort for Lindsey. “Watching our employees decorate their boxes and fill them, then loading eight full boxes into the car to drop off at the school, was one of my favorite parts of this job. Teachers do so much on their own already. It felt good to take even a small piece of that off their plate.
Why Do School Supply Drives Matter?
Teachers across the country frequently purchase classroom supplies using personal funds to help meet student needs throughout the school year. While community supply drives cannot eliminate that reality, they can help reduce some of the out-of-pocket expenses educators face and provide additional resources for students and families.
For the teachers at B.T. Washington Elementary, eight boxes of donated supplies mean more classroom materials available at the start of the school year and additional support for the school’s HOPE Lab.
For anyone looking to support local schools, the best place to start is often with a simple conversation. Many schools maintain wish lists, resource rooms, or teacher support programs that rely on donations from community members and local organizations. Reaching out to ask what supplies are needed most can be a meaningful way to support educators and students alike.
Sometimes the most impactful community partnerships begin by simply asking how you can help.