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Neighborhood news

OASIS stretches realm of its helping hands

By EMILY NIPPS
Published March 2, 2007

The OASIS Network came from humble beginnings, its first headquarters in two women's clothes closets.

Eventually, founders Terry Wolford and Lynn Gruber were able to move their nonprofit operation to a donated portable at Tampa Palms Elementary.

Now the New Tampa-based organization, which collects and distributes clothing and supplies to needy public school children, is expanding to include South and east Tampa distribution sites.

"This is huge for us," said Ginger Bean, executive director of OASIS. "Of course, we're going after more and larger grants this year to fund some of these operations."

Since its establishment in 2001, OASIS has received and distributed more than $1-million in clothing, backpacks, shoes and toiletries.

The charity aims to serve almost half of Hillsborough County's students, as 48 percent of the 194,000 kids are on the free or reduced lunch program, which is considered at or below the poverty level.

The New Tampa, Northdale and Interbay YMCA's have collection boxes for clothing and other items, and OASIS volunteers collect the donations and sort them.

Social workers are able to get things such as jackets and underwear and take them to homeless or needy students.

Kathy Wiggins, a social worker who is heavily involved with OASIS, said the expansion will get students the things they need more easily and efficiently, since volunteers typically had to drive to New Tampa to pick up items.

The new distribution sites will be at 4210 Bay Villa Ave. and the Kimbell Full Service School at 2100 E 26th Ave.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the expansion will be at the Bay Villa site on March 8 at 10 a.m.

For more information on OASIS Network, call 813 977-1845 or visit www.oasis-network.org.

Emily Nipps can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or nipps@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 1, 2007, 07:28:02]