When walking through a school, you may expect to only see classrooms like language arts, math, or art all lining the halls. However, in the bustling corridors of West Intermediate, there is a room that stands out among others: The Trojan Care Closet.
What began as a conversation between students and teachers about how to problem solve and truly make a difference at West Intermediate turned into 6th graders taking action. It was there that the Trojan Care Closet was born. Students imagined a place where anyone, student or teacher, could go to find essential clothing items to fit each season.
With that, 6th grade students and their teachers began working to make this dream a reality. They met with principals, made signs, and soon enough, began accepting donations with their goal in mind: make every student at school feel successful.
Stephanie Schrack, one of our 6th grade teachers, said it best: “We want our students in school each and every day. Our goal is to support our students every way possible. If there is an item that we can provide from the Care Closet to help our students take care of themselves or feel worry-free, we will do what we can to help.” Schrack, alongside Heather Spradlin, facilitated the conversations and work that went into the Care Closet.
When asked about the closet, Schrack and Spradlin shared that their heart behind it was to motivate their students to see real needs in their school community and then build on their ability to problem solve what they observed. These teachers equipped their classes and created a “Care Team” of students who have lunch meetings with official agendas and action items. The students on the Care Team go out of their way as 11-12 year-olds to sort donations, hang/fold clothes, and organize resources to be ready for display.
The Trojan Care Closet at West Intermediate currently has seasonal clothing items, like jackets, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, pants, socks, underwear, and shoes; however, these eager students and teachers have a large goal in mind. The closet has already outgrown its space and is needing to relocate, but the dream doesn’t end there. Schrack noted, “We would love for the closet to feel like a student is shopping in a department store full of items that pre-teens feel comfortable wearing or that they need.” With this in mind, the students on the Care Team would like to expand their mission to other essentials, which are able to be donated now.
They are now accepting donations of new:
Hair care accessories
Deodorant
Soap
Dental care products
Chapstick
Lotion
Feminine hygiene products
Snacks
Breakfast items
Non-perishable dinner items
They are still taking new or gently used clothing in sizes youth large to adult large. If you would like to donate any of these, you can send materials with your student or contact our office.
Schrack and Spradlin know that this is a necessity and are already encouraging students to make plans for after this school year. “Our next meeting will focus on adding some 5th-grade student leaders to our team so our 6th-grade leaders can teach them all about running a successful Care Closet for our school.”
What an incredible display of students seeing a need, taking action, and ensuring that their peers' needs can be met in the future. We are so proud of these teachers and their students for their work in creating the Trojan Care Closet.