NEW PALESTINE — The large supply closet inside the New Palestine Elementary School cafeteria belies its purpose.
Instead of lunch equipment or cleaning supplies, the closet is filled with new and gently used children’s clothes, shoes, coats and mittens — things a parent shopping for a child might find in a kid’s clothing boutique.
The large space is called Stacy’s Sharing Closet — a free shop for district families in need. The boutique was put together by Stacy Bancroft, NPE first-grade teacher; and her husband, Kip Bancroft, a longtime district supporter.
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A similar area is set up at New Palestine Junior High School, called the Giving Closet. It was created by guidance counselor Amanda Schwyn and other school officials. The room at the junior high, also near the school’s lunch room, looks almost like a real store: It’s full of clothes, shoes, hygiene products and even non-perishable food items, except everything inside is free.
The idea behind both projects — part of a growing trend in the county schools — is for the school community to help as many families as it can through community donations. So far, district officials say, they’ve been able to work with nearly 50 families who find the shops useful.
The Bancrofts, who’ve always joked that if they won the lottery they’d give it back to the community, decided not to wait for a jackpot, Stacy Bancroft said.
After seeing Christmas lists from area families in need — some were asking for basic things like a warm blanket or socks with no holes — the Bancrofts knew they had to do something, they said.
“You start to think about priorities and how blessed we are, and you want to do something meaningful,” Kip Bancroft said.
School officials found a place to create the closet, next to the cafeteria, and turned the space into a clothing shop shortly before the holidays.
While the Bancrofts have used some of their own money to purchase new boots and more, they’ve also received donations from the school community and the parent-teachers organization.
Stacey’s Sharing Closet provides clothing items for toddlers through age 16. However, it doesn’t turn away any donations and keeps the items in case they’re needed.
“Our hope is that we can get into the high school and start one there,” Stacy Bancroft said.
Both the Giving Closet and Stacy’s Sharing Closet are open to any family member in the district who needs a helping hand. School officials use their counseling programs to make families aware of the service and then provide them a safe and comfortable place to shop.
Many state programs only service children through sixth grade, Schwyn said, so school officials at New Palestine Junior High felt like they wanted to do more.
To battle food insecurity, officials at the school have long tried to help families in need by handing out bags of food each week. But the Giving Closet is different. It’s set up so a parent or student can come in at their convenience and get things like toiletries, hygiene products and bigger items.
“We’ll get kids here who come in and say, ‘Hey, I really need this,’ and once we get the parents’ permission, we help them out,” Schywn said.
While they rely heavily on the community for clothing donations, they’ve also received monetary donations from businesses. Meijer donated $1,000 to help make the Giving Closet a success.
The other county school districts also have embraced the concept, if not the exact strategy. Mt. Vernon’s Cooperative Closet, established last year as part of a community project by Leadership Hancock County, also distributes clothing and other items to students in need. Maria Bond, the district’s director of community relations, was a catalyst for the project, which has grown since it was started.
At Eastern Hancock, educators tend to assist families on a one-to-one basis when the need arises, said Amanda Pyle, principal at Eastern Hancock Elementary School.
It’s the same for Greenfield-Central schools, where social workers and counselors care for the students on a “as-needed” basis, Superintendent Harold Olin said.
They also work with local groups who supply many of the items, and some students receive packages of food on Friday afternoons.
The Bancrofts hope as their work grows in Southern Hancock schools, they’ll be able to branch out to help others develop similar programs.
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Stacy’s Sharing Closet
Located at New Palestine Elementary School/ Stacy Bancroft
Has clothing, shoes, mittens and coats for toddlers through 16 year olds.
Open to families in need at NPE and throughout the district.
For more information contact: Kori Williamson at [email protected]
The Giving Closet
New Palestine Junior High School/Amanda Schwyn
Has clothing, shoes, hygiene, toiletries and food.
Open to families in need at NPJH
For more information contact: Amanda Schwyn at [email protected]
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