OASIS Network looks to expand in Brandon area

BRANDON — A Tampa-based student assistance organization needs volunteers for an expansion to east Hillsborough.

Formed in 2001, OASIS Network, or Outreach Assisting Students in Schools, provides basic necessities such as uniforms, socks, underwear and toiletries to needy Hillsborough County students. School district social workers have 24-hour access to the donated stockpiles.

The group has three warehouse sites around the county: in New Tampa, South Tampa and east Tampa.

OASIS director Ginger Bean said the group wants to have a wider reach across the county, and the ever-growing Brandon/Riverview area seemed an ideal next step.

And they need help.

Bean said OASIS needs to staff the new site with about a dozen volunteers, perhaps from already established east Hillsborough groups, such as churches or charities. Those people will organize supply drives, pick up donations and keep all the stuff organized.

"It takes a lot of work to manage a site," Bean said.

Organizers are still working to nail down a location in east Hillsborough — something Bean said the school district will ultimately designate. The existing warehouses are old portable classrooms or out-of-use buildings on school campuses.

Bean encourages anyone interested in helping to visit oasis-network.org.

She added that the organization can always use donations, especially gently used uniforms, boys' pants, and sweaters or jackets.

Kim Wilmath can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@sptimes.com.