When Allison West started as Salem Community High School’s first social worker a year ago, she found the Clothes Closet in the basement a pile of unorganized clothes and other items.
But that has changed and there is now a well organized and stocked Clothes Closet that is available to students who otherwise would do without.
West says the change is the result of her reaching out to the business community and the Salem Rotary Club taking on the Clothes Closet as a project after West gave the club a presentation on the needs.
Rotarian Brenda Jones explains how the project all came together.
“We got our District grant and with that funding with the grant we specified what we would do with the space based on the needs that Allison West indicated. We did painting of the closet doors. These closets were already here. We purchased shelving units and plastic storage tubs for clothing.”
The members of the Rotary Club even helped wash clothing to get the items ready for the students.
West says she now has a very useable space to help students, including a closable tent set up as a dressing room area.
“A lot of our students sometimes there are dress code violations or needs at home they don’t have. We provide clothing…p.e. uniforms, hygiene items, bags, shoes, all necessary things needed to be successful. We are just happy to have a space where we can provide those things for the kids.”
West believes the program is keeping some kids in school.
“Some kids come to school in dirty clothes. They don’t feel like being here so we are able to provide them with something clean. Wash their clothes while they are here and hopefully help them be successful and to graduate.”
West says she along with the three school counselors keep an eye out for students who can quietly be helped through the clothes closet. She estimates 80 to 100 students were helped by the Clothes Closet in the past year, some more than once. She expects the offerings of the clothes closet to grow. Not only was she able to buy toiletries and other items through the Rotary grant, but other businesses have indicated a further desire to help.
The Clothes Closet was originally created by now-retired Assistant Principal Kelly Conklin.
The Salem Rotary Club doesn’t plan to stop at the Clothes Closet at Salem Community High School. They now plan to reach out to the Salem Grade School District and other feeder junior highs to see if they could benefit from similar programs. If others are in need, the Salem Rotary will seek additional District Rotary Funds to be able to complete the project.
The clothing containers in the Clothes Closet. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
The Salem Rotary’s Brenda Jones stands in front of the tent put up at the Clothes Closet to allow students privacy in trying on clothing items. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
