Schools help with clothing needs
Students who don't have the clothing, coats or hygiene items they need are less likely to concentrate on their studies, so several schools in Butler County are stepping up to provide them with those basics.
This year, Freeport High School in Buffalo Township opened the Jackets Nest, where students can choose all manner of clothing, coats, belts and socks.
Students who forget their gym clothes or accessories — not just students in crisis — can access the Jackets Nest simply by asking secretary Jennifer Koedel to open it.
“Today, I had a kid come to the office and say, 'Can I get in the closet? I forgot my belt,'” said Koedel, who runs the Jackets Nest. “Anybody can come in for anything.”
She said boys often come to the Nest to get a ball cap to wear in their culinary arts classes, where hats are required.
The Nest also stocks deodorant, facial cleanser, cream and other hygiene items.
“The purpose is to make sure that everything is available to everybody who needs something,” Koedel said. “Sometimes, we don't know who needs help.”
She said Brenda DeMeno, the grandmother of a Freeport High student, works at the Goodwill store in Apollo and sets aside teenage clothing and outerwear when she is processing donations.
“She has brought in American Eagle and Calvin Klein clothing and even a Coach purse,” Koedel said.
She said students and their families as well as the public also donate clothing and hygiene items for the Jackets Nest.
“Now, we are so full we can't take any more items from people,” Koedel said.
At Butler High School, the Tornado Shelter has been in place for three years.
“When we first publicized it, the response from the faculty and students was overwhelming,” said Principal John Wyllie. “We had to move it into a bigger location to accommodate what we had.”
He said coats, hats, gloves, hoodies, gym clothes, shoes, jeans and even suits for formal school events are available at the Shelter.
“Most recently, we've begun adding some nonperishable food staples,” Wyllie said.
He said that students, churches, faculty, retired staff, school clubs that held drives and the public donate the items.“This year, we set out close to 60 gently used coats and 50 brand new coats, and most of them are gone,” said BHS guidance counselor Shannon McGraw.She said that school paraprofessional Tammy Binder runs the Shelter, and the students in special education wash, fold, sort and organize the clothing.“We couldn't do it without them,” McGraw said.Wyllie said that while teachers, guidance counselors and nurses will alert him if they think a student is in need and should access the Shelter, no one is restricted.“If a student comes in and says they need it and we have it, it's theirs,” he said.McGraw thinks the Shelter has had an impact on students in need that is beyond having a warm pair of jeans and shoes to wear to school.“Our kids recognize that they're cared for,” she said. “I think they are overwhelmed with the name-brand things and brand new bookbags.”Wyllie said the Shelter provides a good lesson for all involved, and even those not involved.“For our students who are not in need, they have a greater recognition that some of their peers are in very different circumstances than they are,” he said.Knoch High School in the South Butler School District established the Knights Closet last year.Life Skills instructor Marisa Leech said that the middle school and high school faculty and staff bring in an item of clothing, outerwear or a hygiene product to participate in the district's “dress-down days,” when teachers and other staff members can wear jeans to school.Leech's Life Skills students, who serve as the Closet's attendants, then inventory, sort, wash, fold and stock the clothing.“The next step is the kids will be tagging the clothing, which gives them some retail experience,” Leech said.She said the program allows students in need to access the trendy clothing and basic necessities that all students deserve.“Some students don't have the resources to get items within the community,” Leech said, “so this is a nice alternative for them to have a new toothbrush and body wash and deodorant for them to use.”Moniteau Junior-Senior High School art teacher Laura Smolen established Warriors With a Heart last year.The former dark room in the school's art department has been transformed by Smolen into a boutique, where students in need can shop for an outfit complete with socks and matching jewelry.Smolen enjoys helping the students match pants with a stylish top and necklace.“It just kind of brightens up their day,” Smolen said. “The next day they'll be wearing that outfit and there will be a little pep in their step.”She said other students alert her to their size and what type of clothing they need, and Smolen will grab a handful of items and put them in a backpack for discretion. The student then picks up the backpack at the end of the school day.Smolen started requesting donations after a year of bringing items from her home for students who she knew needed them.“I thought if I bring things in, other people will donate too,” she said.The community came through, and a handful of students helped Smolen sort and hang items.She said Warriors With a Heart is stocked with clothing, but that toiletry items, jackets and shoes are needed. Those items can be dropped at the main office.Smolen said the students who use Warriors With a Heart are often shocked at the cool clothing available and the modern vibe in the shop.“Even if it helps one student, that makes it worth it,” she said.Karns City School District Superintendent Eric Ritzert said coats and clothing are disseminated in his district through the Communities That Care program, which connects the district not only with needy families, but donors as well.“We use that (program) to match people who have things with people who need things,” Ritzert said.He said Freeport Transport Industries recently donated 100 new coats that will be given to students who need them on Wednesday.The nurses' offices in the district's three schools collect and disseminate clothing to students in need, Ritzert said.He said that jeans, hoodies and sweatshirts are the most popular items among needy students.“I think there is a need in the community, and I'm a firm believer that anyone who has been blessed should do their part to help others,” he said.Ritzert said he is not surprised that the clothing-donation programs in schools around the county are successful.“Butler County has a lot of generous people in it,” he said.Those interested in donating clothes, coats, hygiene products, food or other items to students should contact their local high school.
