Students typically spend thousands of dollars each year on clothes, school supplies, and hygiene products, not to mention the hundreds more to attend a school formal like homecoming or prom.
But what about students whose families don’t have extra money to spend? How can they get everything from everyday necessities like school supplies and hygiene products, to luxury items like name-brand clothes or a new prom dress?
And what about the student whose family may not be facing financial hardship, but who comes to school needing a notebook, sweatshirt, or hygiene product that they forgot that day?
According to Tyrone Area Middle School counselor Matt Kimberlin, the Eagles Closet has all that, and more.
The goal of the Eagles Closet is simple: make sure students can get what they need without added stress or embarrassment.
“We have everything from shoes, pants, sweats, underwear, socks, backpacks, personal hygiene products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and feminine hygiene products. Basically, if a kid needs it, it’s there,” said Kimberlin.
Kimberlin added that the Eagles Closet is there for all students, regardless of need.
“And again, it doesn’t have to be someone from a family that doesn’t have money. If they just need something, they can get it from the Eagles Closet. No questions asked. Just find us,” Kimberlin said.
The Eagles Closet is located between the middle and high school in the upstairs hallway.
They stock clothes, school supplies like pens, pencils, notebooks, and folders, and hygiene products, including deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, and feminine hygiene products.
Still looking for the perfect dress for the prom coming up soon in May? The Eagles closet has a large selection of formal dresses in the latest styles, some new with tags, others very gently used.
Kimberlin also emphasized that all the donated clothes are either brand new or cleaned and washed before being placed in the closet.
“Everything that is in there is donated, and everything there is washed,” Kimberlin said.
The life skills classrooms in the school help by laundering donated clothing as part of their life skills curriculum.
“They have laundry facilities, and it’s a good task skill for their students to do,” Kimberlin said. “The adults down there help the kids launder the clothes. They then bring them up to us. We take through stuff that’s just not appropriate for school, and everything else is ready to go.”
The Eagles Closet is stocked purely with donations from Tyrone Area School District teachers and staff members, as well as community groups such as the Rotary Club of Tyrone.
“About 80% are staff donations,” Kimberlin said. “The rest come from community groups, local churches, and businesses that also contribute items.”
Any Tyrone student can access the Eagles Closet by talking with a guidance counselor. Strict confidentiality will be maintained for anyone who needs help.
“A lot of people are a little bit hesitant because they don’t want to feel like someone’s going to criticize them for getting something free, but it is one hundred percent okay to need something from the closet, and no one should have to feel embarrassed to grab something from there,” Kimberlin said.
If students do not have time to visit the guidance office or are not comfortable asking for help in person, the Eagles Closet has also created a secure Google form to request help.
The form will go directly to Mr. Kimberlin, who will contact the student to arrange a day and time for them to get what they need without any other student, teacher, or staff member’s knowledge.
Click the link below to access the secure form:
Kimberlin hopes that by spreading awareness, more students will feel comfortable reaching out when they need support.
“The message behind the Eagles Closet is that there is nothing wrong with asking for help, and no student should have to go without basic necessities during the school day,” said Kimberlin.
