Green Bay East High School opens expanded "Caring Closet" for students in need: fox11online.com
Publicity - Articles
"Transitions to Complete Education"
3rd Place: Brehanna Skaletski
Posted March 05, 2010 13:07
Abstract:
I have created a Closet to provide students who are in need access to school supplies, clothing and hygiene products. The Caring Closet assists students who are trying their best to keep a strong focus on school even though times are tough at home. In a time of need, students are confidentially brought down to the Closet with a social worker where their individual needs are met. The Caring Closet is maintained by student volunteers and supported by donations, therefore teamwork and collaboration throughout the community and school is key.
Biography:
I am a 17 year old student enrolled at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point for fall of 2010. I plan on studying Public Relations/Non-Profit Organization or Education/Administration. I have volunteered over 250 hours during my high school career, but initiating the Caring Closet has by far been the most enjoyable and rewarding task. I will continue to help with it as well as hope to start similar projects Green Bay and other cities. I have learned many life lessons while working with the great staff of East High School, student organizations, and Greater Green Bay Community. I hope other students my age could experience the excitement, motivating stories, and what making a difference really feels like.
Through my years attending Green Bay East High School (EHS) I have always worn my East apparel with great pride and enthusiasm. I also became aware that many students couldn’t afford to buy their own East t-shirts. I believe when a student feels connected and welcome at their school, they are more likely to come to school, get involved, and strive to do better academically.
I then realized supporting students with just a school t-shirt wasn’t going to be enough. My classmates were also in need of other necessary items. I was inspired with a dream, acted on it, and made it come true!
When I first explained my idea of the Closet to our Principal, he suggested an old storage room, for its location. He was very excited to get the project started.
I knew cleaning the Closet out myself was a little outrageous, but with the help of a school group (Red Alert), my parents, and the custodians, it was possible. With face masks on because of the heavy dust, we moved everything out of the room, cleaned and painted the walls, and built shelves. As I was anxiously waiting for the walls to be painted, and shelves to be finished, I began seeking donations. I wrote and hand delivered letters to local businesses and applyed for grants. Donations of clothes, school supplies, and hygiene products, started filling the shelves. I felt that if more people in the community knew about this project, that more individuals and businesses would get involved and donate. April 20th, 2010 I invited the public to come, along with local media stations, and the mayor. Even though I will be graduating from EHS in 25, days I have set up days with other schools in the district to come visit the Caring Closet at East. I hope within the next few years, each of the 38 schools in the district will have their own Closets. My dream of the Closet being refurnished, donations to fill the shelves, and the community becoming aware of the Caring Closet had been accomplished within two months.
By leading this service activity at EHS, I hoped to make clothing, school supplies, and personal hygiene items available to students in need. My plan included finding and cleaning out a storage area, seeking and organizing donations, applying for grants, and opening the closet to help the 56% of students at my school below the poverty level. On April 20th, 2010 all of my goals and dreams for the Caring Closet came true, every one of them. We had the Ribbon Cutting, and we officially opened the doors of the Caring Closet.
This experience of organizing the Caring Closet has been incredible. Every time I hear of the desperate situations of students living in poverty, I am motivated to do more and help my fellow students of East High School. I realized that I often take for granted all that I have and I have learned to appreciate how fortunate I am to have my basic needs provided. I also feel if I can help, there is no reason to wait. No dream is too big- my initial idea of wanting to help students who didn’t have a school t-shirt turned into a dream having the possibility of helping over 750 students. I know the need of necessary items like personal hygiene, clothing, and school supplies are not only needed by our school but by schools across my community and all over the world. I also learned that if the community, businesses, or teachers find a need or a worthy cause, they are enthused to help and donate both time and products. Overall, the most important thing I learned is set your goals high and whether you are recognized for your good deed or not, it is always appreciated, and the feeling inside you will last forever.
Green Bay East High School Newspaper
The Caring Closet
East High students and staff are excited and proud to announce the opening of the Caring Closet. The Caring Closet is a new East High School community service project to provide basic supplies to our homeless students or students in financial need. At East High School, 54 percent of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Many of these students do not have their basic clothing, food, and personal hygiene needs met. Students will be recommended by teachers, counselors or principals and will be brought to the closet by social workers confidentially so other students in the school are unaware of who is provided services.
The idea for the Caring Closet was initiated by East High senior, Brehanna Skaletski, who heard of The Hive that was started at Preble and saw the need for a similar service at East. After an old storage room was decided on for the location, the East High Red Alert assisted in cleaning the Caring Closet and painting the shelving. The East High maintenance provided a fresh coat of paint to the walls and floor. The Parent Network provided a donation of money to help pay for additional shelving which is being built by a parent volunteer.
Brehanna with the help of freshmen Kayla Skaletski and Katie Fineout have been busy seeking donations to help stock the shelves with items such as school supplies, personal hygiene products, and clothing. The students completed a grant application and received funding from Proctor and Gamble. They have also delivered donation request letters to local businesses to ask for donations of products or services, such as haircuts. The Caring Closet organizers would like to thank everyone who has already helped with the gift of time in preparing the closet or donations.
If you or a business that you know of would like to contribute to the Caring Closet, donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated: new hygiene products, new socks and underwear, school supplies, and new or gently used high school age appropriate clothing. Donations of money will also be accepted and will be added to the account for other needed items. All donations are tax deductible and, if you wish, you will be recognized for your generous donation in our parent newsletter.
If you have any questions or if you would like us to pick up your donations, please call Jessica Marchi, School Social Worker at (920) 448-2196 or email jmarchi@greenbay.k12.wi.us. Donations can be dropped off at the Student Services Office or mailed to:
East High Caring Closet
Green Bay East High School
1415 E. Walnut St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
Green Bay East High School Caring Closet
The problem:
As students of the Green Bay East High School community, we frequently witness firsthand that not all of our classmates have equal opportunity. Things such as clothing, school supplies and personal hygiene items are taken for granted by most students entering school on any given day. Recognizing this need we recently created a Caring Closet at East High School to provide products to our homeless students or students in financial need. At East High School 54 percent of our students are on free lunch with all fees waived. It is often taken for granted, but many of these students do not have their basic food, clothing and personal hygiene necessities met.
Vital Stats:
people impacted: 34
people involved: 45
Why It's Important:
Every student should have access to the basic needs of life so their focus can remain on their education. The cycles of poverty can be a very complex issue that is not easily understood unless you are the one who is experiencing it. Then, it is known all too well. At East High School, 54 % of students qualify for free lunch. This means that more than half of our student body struggles to overcome many of the basic things that are often taken for granted. As members of the Green Bay East High School community, we believe in the equalizing power of education. We feel the responsibility and possess the drive to assist those students around us in recognizing that given the proper resources and opportunities to be successful, ALL students will experience the power and freedom that results from a sound education.
The Plan of Action:
We have restored a private and secure room in the lower level of East High that we now proudly call the Green Bay East High School Caring Closet. As we begin to stock this room we are reaching to organizations within our reach to sustain the Caring Closet. We began stocking the room in March and are now looking for more options to complete the closet and stock it fully for the 2010-2011 school year. In August we will begin to shop for back to school backpacks for as many students as we can provide for in hopes of getting the school year started the right way.
How You Can Get Involved:
Many have helped in starting this project. Our Red Alert service club has helped immensely in the restoration and startup of the closet. The CD classes come down during one class period per week and help with washing, folding and hanging clothes. Many of our students and parents have helped with this startup also, whether its monetary or product donations. We look to our community and various resources to provide donations of harder to get donations such as school supplies and personal hygiene products whether it be donated in product or monetary for us to purchase.