As most parents can attest, the school supply list can be overwhelming, and even more so for a family in need. But as the bell rang to start the new school year, many students and teachers had the supplies needed to ensure academic success – all thanks to donations from our caring TECO team members.
After hearing a commercial on the radio in July, Jeremy Cain, Tampa Electric’s Director of Bayside Power Station, encouraged Bayside team members to contribute to the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) Tampa Bay School Drive.
Bayside Power Station team members proudly donated school supplies as part of Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Tampa Bay School Supply Drive.
“Jeremy reminded us that a good education is a key first step in breaking the poverty cycle,” said TECO Administrative Specialist Lead Kenya Bowers. “Our team loves to give back, especially when it comes to helping local children, so we all jumped right in and started contributing.”
HEF’s Tampa Bay School Supply Drive makes sure that students with the greatest need have the tools needed to succeed in the new school year. Knowing that many students don’t have some of the most basic supplies needed to be fully engaged in learning, around 45 team members from Bayside came together and purchased school supplies or donated money to HEF.
“The message to the students is simple,” said TECO Administrative Specialist Lead Laurie Cortez. “Pay it forward by working hard so you can achieve your dreams.”
When all was said and done, Bayside team members purchased more than 30 backpacks stuffed with essential school supplies for elementary and middle school students and teachers.
While the Bayside team was collecting school supplies, dozens of other team members from Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas were helping homeless students at Patricia J. Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School start the year right by contributing to Backpacks of Hope.
Team members from Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas contributed to Backpacks of Hope. The donation to Sullivan Partnership School included various school supplies and hundreds of dollars spent on teacher wish list items
“I believe this is our eighth school supply drive for Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School,” said TECO’s Senior Administrator of Organizational Development Bruce Napier. “According to school staff, this is the biggest school supply drive we have ever had for them.”
Thank you to the TECO team members who contributed to these school supply drives. Your continued compassion and generosity helped make sure essential school supplies were placed into the hands of students who need them most.
