Cowboy Closet off to strong start

Over the last few years, staff in the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows school district have noticed changes in student demographics, particularly relating to poverty. This year, students and staff have come together to try to do something about it.

Starting in December, Alondra Aragon, an FFA student in leadership, and Erin Halverson, school nurse, requested donations for a community closet for those in need. Many in the school and community responded, and the Cowboy Closet was born.

Currently, the Cowboy Closet—a literal closet attached to a classroom used only part of the day—has clothing ranging from infant sizes all the way up to 2X, plus items like a carseat, wall décor, coats, shoes, scarves, shampoo and toothbrushes, school supplies, backpacks, even diapers.

Anyone in the community is welcome to come in and take however many items they need, not just families of students and not just those with low incomes. FFA volunteers or staff at the school can help visitors between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and should be able to make other times work. Halverson requests that visitors simply call the school ahead of time.

For the full story, see the February 1 edition of the Monitor.