(843) 991-2695Free Consultation Request
Medicare Agent in San Antonio, TX
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in San Antonio, TX or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
- Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
- What is Medicare?
- The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
- Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in San Antonio, TX
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Medicare Agent in San Antonio, TX
- How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
- Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
- Paying for Your Medicare Agent
- The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in San Antonio, TX
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in San Antonio, TX is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Medicare Agent in San Antonio, TX
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer Medicare Agent in San Antonio, TX. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Medicare Agent
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 57 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance for Michael
Senior Medicare Plans for Marlene
Medicare plans for Gary
Senior Health Insurance for Kathy
Healthcare for Anita
Burial Insurance for James
Medicare Advantage for cathy
Senior Medicare Insurance for Teresa
Medicare for Wendy
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance for michele
Senior Medicare Plans for Macklyn
Medicare plans for Mary
Senior Health Insurance for Midnightflowerphonix
Healthcare for Larry
Burial Insurance for Linda
Medicare Advantage for Joan
Senior Medicare Insurance for Carol
Medicare for Elisa
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance for Andrea
Senior Medicare Plans for Bernard
Medicare plans for Judie
Senior Health Insurance for Richard
Healthcare for Cindy
Burial Insurance for Judith
Medicare Advantage for Raymond
Latest News in San Antonio, TX
Cool, fall air arrives tonight: Texas temperatures will drop into the 50s and 60s
Anthony Franzehttps://www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-weather/forecast/article/texas-temps-san-antonio-cool-tonight-fall-22461001.php
After what was the hottest September on record across much of Texas, conditions have finally cooled over the last few days. In San Antonio, temperatures hovered in the 70s and low 80s throughout the weekend — much more comfortable than the 90s and triple-digit temps that had plagued the area for the last several weeks.Heading into Monday night, conditions will feel even more like fall across Texas as temperatures will drop into the 50s and 60s statewide. North winds will also send significantly drier air into the region, allowin...
After what was the hottest September on record across much of Texas, conditions have finally cooled over the last few days. In San Antonio, temperatures hovered in the 70s and low 80s throughout the weekend — much more comfortable than the 90s and triple-digit temps that had plagued the area for the last several weeks.
Heading into Monday night, conditions will feel even more like fall across Texas as temperatures will drop into the 50s and 60s statewide. North winds will also send significantly drier air into the region, allowing humidity levels to drop considerably.
That said, forecast models show rain could return to the region by the end of the week as a Gulf disturbance moves toward the coast. Here’s an overview of what to expect this week.
San Antonio’s Monday forecast
Comfortable conditions are expected in San Antonio early Monday, as temperatures will sit in the low 70s through 9 a.m. Skies will be mostly clear, but winds will stay breezy, coming in from the north at 15 to 20 mph.
With drier air and more sunshine expected Monday, temperatures will warm more than they did over the weekend. San Antonio is likely to reach 80 degrees by noon, with high temps topping out in the mid-80s by late afternoon. Rain is not expected across the region.
Article continues below this ad
Monday night across Texas
Overnight and into early Tuesday morning, many people across Texas may want to break out a sweater or a light jacket as temperatures are set to drop to their lowest levels in over four months.
In San Antonio, temps will hover in the low 70s by 10 p.m., eventually dropping into the upper 60s after midnight. Overnight lows throughout the metro area are likely to reach 66 to 68 degrees – the lowest temperatures in the area since May 28.
Areas farther north across Texas will be even cooler. In the Hill Country, lows are expected near 60 degrees in Kerrville and Fredericksburg, while temperatures will likely fall into the 50s across large parts of North Texas, West Texas and the Panhandle.
The rest of the week
Lots of sunshine is expected through the middle of the week as dry air stays in place. This will cause afternoon high temps to rise by a few degrees, reaching the upper 80s on Tuesday before potentially reaching 90 degrees again by Wednesday. Low temperatures will remain cool, with readings still expected to drop into the mid- to upper 60s each morning.
By Thursday, Gulf moisture is expected to increase across South Texas, leading to more cloud-cover and a slight chance (20%) of showers and storms by the late afternoon and evening. Moisture will continue to increase on Friday, allowing rain chances to rise to around 40% in San Antonio. The extra cloud-cover will send high temps back to the mid-80s.
There is some potential for a tropical system to develop in the Gulf during the middle to second half of the week. San Antonio’s overall rain chances will depend highly on the eventual path and strength of the Gulf disturbance. Be sure to stay with expressnews.com/weather for updates.
Oct 5, 2026
Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net.
Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.
In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.
Nostalgic San Antonio restaurant shutters after 21 years. How many are left?
Melanie Love Salazarhttps://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/cicis-pizza-san-antonio-22456556.php
Every San Antonian has a restaurant that evokes childhood nostalgia. Some locals have been shocked to see one of their favorite buffet spots mysteriously closed.The Texas-founded chain Cici's Pizza currently has four locations in the city. But not long ago, it also served customers on the Northwest Side near De Zavala Road. After its Google status recently changed to "permanently closed," customers started wondering what happened."This is very sad indeed," one social media user wrote in response to the statu...
Every San Antonian has a restaurant that evokes childhood nostalgia. Some locals have been shocked to see one of their favorite buffet spots mysteriously closed.
The Texas-founded chain Cici's Pizza currently has four locations in the city. But not long ago, it also served customers on the Northwest Side near De Zavala Road. After its Google status recently changed to "permanently closed," customers started wondering what happened.
"This is very sad indeed," one social media user wrote in response to the status change. "It was also my favorite location, it was much better than the others."
"This is wild! They were receiving good Google reviews just four days ago," another wrote.
A company spokesperson confirmed to MySA on Monday, October 5, that the 12822 I-10 location is no longer open. They added that Cici's will continue to serve San Antonio at the following locations:
"We’re incredibly grateful to the team members who served our Cicis Pizza location at 12822 I-10 in San Antonio and to the guests and team members who made this location part of the community over the years," the spokesperson said.
The I-10 eatery was located just three miles from UT San Antonio, offering major deals on pizza, salad, pasta, and dessert. It's one of the rarely found buffets offering prices that start at around $9.99 for adults and $5.99 for kids.
"Oh man, that was my go to when I was in college 20 years ago," a Reddit user wrote.
A company spokesperson told MySA that this restaurant opened in July 2005. Its closure brings its 21-year run to an end. The company did not respond to MySA's request for comment on what led to the closure or its official shutdown date.
Cici's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2021, according to CNN, citing difficulties amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Two months later, it announced it had "successfully emerged from Chapter 11 protection" after reorganizing and entering into an agreement to sell the company to D&G Investors.
Over the years, additional locations in the Fort Worth and Kerrville areas have shut down. However, new locations have also been announced for Mansfield (not open yet) and Grapevine (now open).
Opposition Mounts Against Proposed ICE Jail in San Antonio, Texas
Democracy Now!https://www.democracynow.org/2026/10/6/headlines/opposition_mounts_against_proposed_ice_jail_in_san_antonio_texas
In Texas, opposition is mounting against a proposed ICE jail and processing center that would be located inside a 640,000-square-foot warehouse in San Antonio’s Eastside. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones says city officials are exploring legal options to block the site after federal officials failed to respond to questions about its impacts on the environment and local community. The jail is also opposed by San Antonio-area Congressmember Joaquin Castro, who cited reports of inadequate medical care and abusive conditions in ICE detention centers...
In Texas, opposition is mounting against a proposed ICE jail and processing center that would be located inside a 640,000-square-foot warehouse in San Antonio’s Eastside. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones says city officials are exploring legal options to block the site after federal officials failed to respond to questions about its impacts on the environment and local community. The jail is also opposed by San Antonio-area Congressmember Joaquin Castro, who cited reports of inadequate medical care and abusive conditions in ICE detention centers, including sexual violence. Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched to the warehouse site calling on ICE to get out of San Antonio.
In related news, immigrants detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Georgia have released a video from inside denouncing inhumane conditions.
Idris Makhmudov: “We are immigrants from all over the world, whom Trump is locking up in prison-like detentions for nothing and for a long time.”
Mujtaba Qeyami: “Most of us are asylum seekers, those who came to the United States seeking protection from political persecution and violence in their home countries. Many fled out of fear becoming political prisoner in those countries, and one might say we became political prisoner in United States simply because we are immigrants.”
Genaro Jimenez: “We have one to two hours of yard a day, and the rest of the day we are locked up and gone. We’re strictly controlled and restricted in everything, what we can have, watch and play, where we can eat and sleep, shower, and go to toilet.”
Mohammadou Sall: “Honor, dignity, respect mean nothing here. The guards insult us, humiliate us, threaten us and punish us when they want.”
The Folkston ICE Processing Center is operated by the for-profit prison company GEO Group.
230 Layoffs at San Antonio-Area Delivery Company Call Attention to the Six-Month Income Test in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
24-7 Press Release Newswirehttps://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539311/230-layoffs-at-san-antonio-area-delivery-company-call-attention-to-the-six-month-income-test-in-chapter-7-bankruptcy
Wages Received Before a Layoff Remain in the Means Test Calculation for Six Months, So the Filing Date Can Change Whether a Worker QualifiesShare This Story: SAN ANTONIO, TX, October 06, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- 4XH Logistics, a freight and delivery company in the San Antonio area, plans to lay off 230 employees between Nov. 6 and Nov. 19, according to a notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and reported by KENS 5. Leinart Law Firm advises affected workers carrying credit card debt and other balances to review the ...
Wages Received Before a Layoff Remain in the Means Test Calculation for Six Months, So the Filing Date Can Change Whether a Worker Qualifies
Share This Story:
SAN ANTONIO, TX, October 06, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- 4XH Logistics, a freight and delivery company in the San Antonio area, plans to lay off 230 employees between Nov. 6 and Nov. 19, according to a notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and reported by KENS 5. Leinart Law Firm advises affected workers carrying credit card debt and other balances to review the timing of any bankruptcy filing before their last day. A bankruptcy lawyer in San Antonio, TX can show how recent wages affect Chapter 7 eligibility.
Unemployment in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area reached 4.7 percent in July, up from 3.8 percent in April, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
How the Means Test Treats a Layoff
For workers considering Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the timing of a layoff affects eligibility. The federal means test relies on current monthly income, defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(10A), and works in this order:
1. Income from nearly all sources is averaged over the six full calendar months before the filing month. 2. Wages received before a layoff stay in that average until their month leaves the window. A final paycheck received in November 2026 counts in any case filed through May 2027. 3. The average is multiplied by 12 and compared to the Texas median family income for the same household size. 4. A filer at or below the median passes the means test without further calculation. 5. A filer above the median completes a second calculation that subtracts allowed living expenses, and the result may favor a Chapter 13 repayment plan instead.
When Filing Sooner Makes Sense
Waiting for higher-income months to leave the window is not always practical. A creditor lawsuit, a scheduled foreclosure sale, or a repossession can make an earlier filing the better choice because the automatic stay halts most collection activity on filing.
"A layoff changes a household's finances right away, but the means test reflects that change gradually over six months," said Marcus Leinart, founder of Leinart Law Firm. "We review each month in that window with a client so the filing date accounts for both the income calculation and what creditors are already doing."
About Leinart Law Firm:
Leinart Law Firm represents individuals and families across Texas in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases and in matters involving foreclosure, repossession, wage garnishment, and credit card debt. Marcus Leinart, who founded the firm in 2005, earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and has held a Texas law license since 1995. A member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, he has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases during his career. The firm has offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, and consultations can be scheduled online.
# # #
Marcus Leinart
Leinart Law Firm
San Antonio, Texas
United States
Telephone: (469) 232-3328
SAISD Foundation opens free school supply store for educators
TPR Texas Public Radiohttps://www.tpr.org/education/2026-10-05/saisd-foundation-opens-free-school-supply-store-for-educators
Sign up for , Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning.The SAISD Foundation is opening a new resource for teachers who often spend their own money to stock their classrooms.Housed in the historic Phillis Wheatley High School building, the foundation’s Teacher Store opened Monday, Oct. 5 — World Teacher Day — at Young Men’s Leadership Academy on the East Side of San Antonio.The store is the first free supply store in San Antonio, created s...
Sign up for , Texas Public Radio's newsletter that brings our top stories to your inbox each morning.
The SAISD Foundation is opening a new resource for teachers who often spend their own money to stock their classrooms.
Housed in the historic Phillis Wheatley High School building, the foundation’s Teacher Store opened Monday, Oct. 5 — World Teacher Day — at Young Men’s Leadership Academy on the East Side of San Antonio.
The store is the first free supply store in San Antonio, created specifically for San Antonio ISD PK-12 educators.
The store offers new and gently used classroom supplies at no cost to teachers. The foundation says the goal is to help fill gaps that aren't covered by teacher grants or school resources.
“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,” said Matthew San Martin, a digital marketing specialist with the SAISD Foundation.
The foundation has provided teacher grants for 20 years, but the new store is designed to reach more educators. The foundation hopes to serve 3,000 teachers during the store's first year — nearly four times the roughly 800 educators currently served through its grant programs.
Carrie Smith, communications and community engagement manager for the foundation, said the store could save teachers hundreds of dollars.
“I would say they're going to save hundreds of dollars each semester,” Smith said. “They get to come twice a year, for right now. This is our pilot year, so right now we're just doing come in the fall, come in the spring, fill up your cart, and take back what you need to your school.”
During the pilot season, teachers can visit once during the fall shopping period and once in the spring. The store is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
The store's inventory comes from several sources, including H-E-B, community and corporate donations, purchased supplies and materials teachers no longer need.
The foundation also asked SAISD educators what supplies would be most useful.
“We went to a few different campuses and to their staff meetings that they would have, and we just kind of put it out there, saying if you know such a thing like this did exist, what's something that you know you'd like to see?” San Martin said. “And hands went up - markers, index cards, post it notes, things like that. So, we gathered from SAISD teachers, elementary, middle, high school, and did our best to fill it up.”
The shelves can include items such as backpacks, insulated cups, highlighters, calculators, recorders and other classroom materials. The foundation also accepts convention and meeting materials that can be reused, including lanyards, foam core, corrugated plastic and branded supplies.
Smith said the store is intended to distinguish itself from similar programs in other school districts because teachers don't have to pay to participate.
“Other school districts have stores similar to this, but there are costs involved. So, for our teachers in San Antonio ISD, it's 100% free to them,” Smith said.
The store is also designed to connect educators across generations.
During the day, trainees in SAISD's Adult Years Vocational Program will staff the store as part of a job-training program. After school, retired educators will help operate the store, including assisting teachers, restocking shelves and welcoming visitors.
The foundation says the arrangement is intended to turn the store into more than a place to pick up supplies. It can also serve as a hub for mentorship and connection among educators.
Community members can also support the program through donations. San Martin said contributions can go directly toward keeping the store stocked.
“Folks can support directly by giving a donation to the teacher store through our website at saisdfoundation.com, and we do it all for the teachers and to give back to them so that they can teach our future generations,” San Martin said.
For teachers, shopping hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The foundation is also seeking retired educators to volunteer at the store. Volunteer shifts are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
The store's initial shopping season runs from October through March. From April through June, the foundation plans to focus on collecting donations and surplus materials that can be used in the following school year.
The foundation says donations can be dropped off throughout the year and are not limited to teacher shopping hours.
Disclaimer:
