Whether it’s helping a young lady find just the right dress for prom or outfitting a young man in a suit for a job interview, the clothes closet at Douglass Learning Center is making a difference in the lives of Lawton Public Schools students.
The clothes closet is housed in a former teachers’ workroom at Douglass and opened last year. At that time, it contained only one clothes rack and a few random clothes, according to Lindsay Albert-Maez, Lawton Virtual Academy high school science teacher who helps organize the clothes closet. Albert-Maez and fellow teacher Elizabeth Perry have scoured the school looking for odd pieces of furniture to move into the room, including bookcases to hold folding clothes and personal hygiene items.
“It has grown a lot since last year,” Albert-Maez said. “Last year there was one rack with one set of clothes on it. We took it over last year, but it was just a closet with a couple of clothes in it.”
Shelves that once held textbooks now hold neatly folded boys and girls jeans and shirts, sorted according to size. Across the room, another bookshelf holds personal hygiene items such as body spray and deodorant, a basket or two of socks and laundry detergent. Dresses, shirts and jackets are hung on several clothes racks. The dresses include formals in case someone needs a dress for a homecoming dance or a prom.
“We try to help them find something to wear to those,” Albert-Maez said of special school events.
The clothes closet is open to all students in Lawton Virtual Academy, Gateway Success Center and Parker Pointe.
“We are trying to meet the needs of the kids that need a little extra help,” Albert-Maez said.
Some of the more popular clothing items are sweatpants and hoodies, said Albert-Maez, adding that last year hoodies would be gone within a day of being available.
The clothes closet doesn’t help with just clothing items; it also offers laundry services.
“We let the kids do their own, or they can give us their laundry. They can put their clothes in a bag and pick out something to wear (while their laundry is being done),” Albert-Maez said.
If students have access to laundry facilities elsewhere, they can pick up a laundry sheet from the clothes closet.
Those who run the clothes closet also try to help students who need speciality items. Albert-Maez said last year a student got a job at Goodyear and needed some steel-toed shoes.
“If a kid gets an opportunity like that, we try to meet those needs where we can,” Albert-Maez said.
The clothes closet runs off grants and donations. Several teachers and some members of the community make donations, Albert-Maez said. Last year a boutique donated jeans and a retail store donated hangers. This year a church donated new raincoats.
“The girls come to shop around and see what is new,” Perry said.
While most items are donated, a grant helps pay for some things, such as socks and underwear for boys and girls. Albert-Maez said the closet will accept donations of those items, but they must be new and in packages.
Another item in high demand is laundry detergent.
“We get a lot of laundry going,” Albert-Maez said.
The closet is fairly well stocked with women’s clothing items, but could use more items for men, Albert-Maez and Perry said, adding they won’t turn down any items.
Word about the clothes closet is spread through Facebook, the teachers and on the school’s marquee.
“We have them (students) come to us," Albert-Maez said. “This is a no-judgment zone.”
To donate, items may be dropped off at Douglass Learning Center, 102 E. Gore. Clothing must be school appropriate. Socks and underwear must be new and in packages. Laundry detergent needs to be hypoallergenic.