SAISD Foundation Opens First Free Supply Store for San Antonio Teachers

The SAISD Foundation opened a free school supply store for San Antonio ISD PK-12 educators on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Texas Public Radio reported.

Teacher Store Opening on World Teacher Day

The new resource is housed in the historic Phillis Wheatley High School building at 415 Gabriel in San Antonio. Operating on World Teacher Day, the storefront marks the first free supply store in San Antonio created specifically for SAISD educators. Aisles inside the facility hold new and gently used classroom supplies provided at no cost.

The foundation launched the facility to fill gaps that school resources and teacher grants fail to cover. Matthew San Martin, a digital marketing specialist with the SAISD Foundation, explained that teachers across the district frequently spend their own money to equip their classrooms.

“Even though we give out many grants throughout the year, grants don’t cover everything, and a lot of teachers, especially in SAISD, are still having to reach into their wallets to fill in the gaps,” San Martin said.

Expansion Beyond Traditional Grant Programs

While the foundation has provided teacher grants for 20 years, the physical store is structured to reach a much larger segment of the district’s workforce. Organizers expect to serve 3,000 teachers during the pilot year of the project. That figure represents nearly four times the approximately 800 educators reached annually through existing grant programs.

Carrie Smith, communications and community engagement manager for the foundation, stated that participating educators can expect substantial personal savings.

“I would say they’re going to save hundreds of dollars each semester,” Smith said.

During the pilot season, teachers may visit the store twice a year—once during the fall shopping period and once in the spring. Current operating hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m.

Educators Identify Priority Supplies for Inventory Sourcing

Supplies come from multiple channels, including corporate contributions from H-E-B, community donations, direct purchases, and materials gathered from educators who no longer need them. The inventory also includes convention and meeting supplies such as lanyards, foam core, corrugated plastic, and branded items.

Before stocking the shelves, foundation staff visited various campus staff meetings to ask teachers what materials they needed most. Educators identified highlighters, index cards, Post-it notes, markers, backpacks, insulated cups, calculators, and recorders as top priorities.

Unlike similar programs operating in other school districts, participation fees do not exist here. Other school districts maintain stores with associated costs, but the SAISD facility is entirely free for the district’s teachers, according to Smith.

Vocational Trainees and Retired Educators Staff the Store

The facility also serves as a vocational training ground and a connection point for retired educators. Trainees in SAISD’s Adult Years Vocational Program staff the store during daytime hours as part of a job-training initiative. After school, retired educators assist with welcoming visitors, restocking shelves, and supporting teachers.

Community members can contribute to the initiative by dropping off donations year-round or by making direct financial contributions through the SAISD Foundation website. The foundation is also recruiting retired educators to volunteer during store shifts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.

The initial shopping season runs through March. From April through June, operations will shift toward collecting donations and surplus materials to prepare for the following academic year.