Buckhannon Academy Elementary School is beginning its new hygiene closet with a $270 grant award from the Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur.
Krista Sappey, Communities in Schools facilitator at Buckhannon Academy Elementary School, attended the Sept. 16 Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur meeting to receive the grant from club members.
“I asked for donations because we are starting a hygiene closet in the bathrooms in the gym, which primarily are used by fourth and fifth graders, to provide mini deodorants, maybe some toothpaste and a toothbrush, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, things that when I was in elementary school, you didn’t really have to think about,” Sappey said. “We’re finding out we have to think about these things for a lot of these kids, they don’t have access to these things at home.”
Buckhannon Academy also has a Comfort Closet and a shower for students to use if needed.
“Sometimes that age isn’t fun, and it’s really not fun if you don’t have products to help you have strong relationships with peers because of things outside of your control,” Sappey said. “We have a regular Comfort Closet where we have clothes and things of that nature, we even have a working shower at school, where some of our kids have been known to come in and shower if they need to.”
The students also have access to a therapy dog and a garden club.
“We have our therapy dog, which was a fantastic addition; this is his fourth year, and the kids love him,” Sappey said. “We’re trying to build a family culture and a culture of community. We’re going to get a greenhouse soon because we started a garden club, so we’re just trying to love them and support them while they’re here.”
Another item always needed at the school is lice kits and shoes for their Comfort Closet.
“You guys were generous enough last year to purchase lice kits. Those went out the door very quickly. It’s just something you don’t think about, but if you have a family of five kids and you have to treat them all, it’s $10 to $20 per treatment. That adds up really quickly,” Sappey said. “We can always use feminine hygiene products, we can always use deodorants, and we can always use shoes. That’s the one thing that costs a lot of money that people don’t think about. Last year, Toyota was gracious enough to give us 70 pairs of shoes for our Comfort Closet, and those are pretty much gone.”
