REACH students unveil Caring Closet at Henning School

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A new service project at Henning School is providing personal care and school spirit items to students in need. The new Caring Closet was recently unveiled as part of a service project by REACH students at the school. 

The Caring Closet is aimed at providing everything from deodorant to shampoo, snacks and other personal care items in a discrete and anonymous way. Items on the Caring Closet also come free of charge. 

“The original idea was to provide basic necessities to students who may not have access to them,” said Henning School Principal Thomas Williams. 

For instance, the caring closet features a variety of items like deodorant, soap, shampoo and other hygiene needs that may be difficult to fund for a family going through a rough financial patch.

“Self care items that they all use, but might be at the bottom for a family who are financially strapped,” said Williams. 

The Caring Closet was unveiled a few weeks ago and is currently located in a room in Jenna Damm’s counselor’s office. 

Henning School teacher and REACH advisor Toni Erlandson said the had thought about putting the Caring Closet in her room, but the group opted to put it in an office in the counselor’s office so it would be unlocked for students at all hours of the day. She said the goal was to provide a discrete place for students to pick up the items should they wish to remain anonymous. 

“It’s there for anyone who needs it and it’s not judgmental,” said Williams. 

The Caring Closet is being stocked and run by the REACH students at Henning School. Erlandson is in charge of the group and said the students were looking for a service project when they came across the idea of providing items for other students during a time of need.

“We wanted to do a service project and thought it was a good idea to give back,” she said.

To help get the project going, the students received a $250 Thrivent gift card to purchase items at Seip Drug Store and B&D Foods in Henning. While the Thrivent card helped to get the project off the ground this year, Williams said the Caring Closet could be an option as an adopt a class in future years to help keep the shelves stocked for students in need. 

“Basically take what you need,” said Williams. “It is based on the idea that kids who take them really need them.”

Moving forward, Williams said the Caring Closet is looking for a clothes rack to display some Henning Hornet and Otter Tail Central Bulldog apparel. The program will accept slightly worn school clothing to put on the Caring Closet shelf, but since space is limited, a full clothing line of other clothing items will not be included as part of the program. 

For more information about the program, or to donate some Henning Hornet or Otter Tail Central clothing, contact Toni Erlandson at Henning School at 583-2927.