Q. What does OASIS stand for? A. Outreach Assisting Students In Schools
Q. What is OASIS Network? A. A non-profit 501(c)3 charity providing basic necessities to students in public schools in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Q. Why does OASIS exist? A. The School District of Hillsborough County is the 8th largest in the country, educating approximately 192,000 students. About 60% of those students qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program, meaning they live in poverty. More than 2800 students in our schools are homeless. OASIS exists to help meet the basic needs of these students.
Q. What basic necessities are supplied to the students? A. New socks and underwear, uniform clothing, gently used clothing, shoes, toiletries, alarm clocks, school supplies, belts, jackets and sweatshirts.
Q. Do you take adult clothing? A. We need school appropriate clothing in all sizes up to the largest adult sizes, as well as infant clothing.
Q. Do you take used shoes? A. Because of health issues and limited space capacity, we only take very gently used shoes.
Q. How do the supplies get from OASIS to the students? A. OASIS Network has partnered with, and exists to support, the school social workers for the School District of Hillsborough County. The social workers identify the students in need, obtain the necessary items from OASIS, and provide the items directly to the students. OASIS currently supports three distribution sites, spread throughout the county, which are accessed by the social workers.
Q. How does OASIS obtain the items to provide to the students? A. Gently used clothing is donated by community members at various donation sites for OASIS. Also, OASIS applies for grants from foundations, corporations, organizations and receives donations, which are used to purchase new socks, underwear, uniform clothing, toiletries and shoes for distribution. OASIS receives other clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and toy donations from special collections by individuals, schools, and corporate and community groups. It is also the beneficiary of special fund-raising events throughout the year.
Q. How does a student qualify to receive items? A. Because the social workers are trained to identify student needs, there is no formal qualification process. Students can be served the same day the need is identified.
Q. Where may I donate my clothing to OASIS? A. You may donate your gently used clothing (appropriate school clothes) in OASIS bins located around Tampa. For a list of those locations, please click here.
Q. How else may I help OASIS? A. You may host a drive for gently used clothing, school supplies or hygiene items in your neighborhood, school, place of worship or business. Contact OASIS to help get you started: 813-975-8179 or OasisNewTampa@aol.com
