Teachers at Lennard High School, East Bay High School, and other South Shore campuses head back to classrooms Monday, Aug. 10, many having already spent hundreds of their own dollars on pencils, notebooks, and copy paper. A free supply center in Tampa is trying to close that gap, and this year demand is outpacing anything the program has seen before.

The Hillsborough Education Foundation's Teaching Tools Resource Center has distributed roughly $75,000 worth of supplies since opening to teachers in mid-July, HEF President and CEO Anna Corman told Tampa Bay 28 on Monday, Aug. 3.

"We've probably gotten out about $75,000 worth of supplies just in a few short weeks," Corman said. "Which I think just really speaks to the need and the demand for school supplies."

Hundreds of Hillsborough County teachers have already visited the center at 2306 N. Howard Ave. in Tampa, where educators can shop for free up to four times a year. Each teacher typically leaves with about $475 worth of materials. Last year the foundation distributed nearly $3.5 million in supplies to some 4,000 teachers across the district.

Why demand keeps climbing

Florida ranks last among the 50 states in average teacher pay, according to National Education Association data reported by the Florida Phoenix in April. The state's average salary of $56,663 trails the national average of $74,495 by nearly $18,000, and inflation-adjusted pay has fallen more than 12% over the past decade.

Corman said teachers spend about $1,000 of their own money each year on classroom supplies.

With grocery and gas prices still elevated, that burden hits harder for educators already earning well below the national average.

Hillsborough voters approved a millage referendum in November 2024 that generates about $177 million annually for the district, with 92% dedicated to teacher and staff compensation. That translates to a $3,000 or $6,000 annual salary supplement per employee at schools including Lennard and East Bay. But the supplement does not cover supply costs.

How South Shore families can help

The Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office ran its annual supply drive at all nine locations throughout July, collecting items for the Resource Center. That drive, now in its nearly 20th year, averages about 37,000 donated items annually.

Residents who missed the July drive can still donate online at educationfoundation.com/donate. HEF says 94 cents of every dollar goes directly to programs supporting students and teachers. Most-needed items include copy paper, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, scissors, backpacks, and tissues.

Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday runs through Thursday, Aug. 20, covering qualifying school supplies purchased for donation or personal use.

Corman told 83 Degrees Media on July 30 that families are stretching every dollar and that the supply program aims to remove that burden from both parents and teachers. The Resource Center stays open throughout the school year, with up to four free shopping visits per educator.