Dawn's OASIS Campaign

As many of you know, I have had a passion for educating children since I was young.  It all started in my church's nursery where I taught the kids their ABCs at just 8 years old.   After a 17 year teaching career, I started working with a nonprofit in Tampa Bay called OASIS.  They provide clothing and basic hygiene items to students in immediate need in Hillsborough County.  I instantly recognized the importance of their efforts...providing kids with the basic necessities needed to walk confidently into the classroom each morning.  

Through the school social workers, OASIS provides school uniforms and other clothing on a new student's first day in the classroom after a house fire...provides the first pair of new tennis shoes they have ever owned so they do not have to sit on the sideline at PE because all they have are flip flops...offers that backpack full of new crayons and pencils for the first day in a new school .  These moments may seem insignificant to many of us but I know from first hand experience they are critical to establishing and maintaining a student's confidence in the classroom.  That confidence directly influences their ability to attend and learn in the classroom.  

On Tuesday, May 1, I ask you to  support OASIS's efforts this Give Day Tampa Bay.  While the official give day opens at midnight on May 1st, please feel free to give any time.  No donation is too small and goes directly to provide new school uniforms, socks, shoes, and underwear.  Join me in skipping your $5 coffee or breakfast sandwich once this week...that is all it takes to give one student a week's worth of new underwear (And yes, clean underwear are a BIG treat for some kids!) or a new uniform shirt.  Trade your $25 Taco Tuesday night out and dress one student from Head to Toe.  It's that easy to make a child smile and feel special!