Stagg High School’s ‘closet’ offers students free clothes, service hours

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Charger’s Closet at Stagg High School in Palos Hills is more than a place to store clothing and accessories – it’s a welcoming space that helps students and staff look and feel their best, according to the people who put the initiative together.

“Our mission is to provide attire for internships, work programs, job interviews, class presentations, school events, and everyday casual wear, ensuring all students have access to the essentials they need,” shared Julie Heinlen, Family & Consumer Sciences teacher and cosponsor for Charger’s Closet. “We are currently seeking donations of fall/winter wear, spirit wear and dresses for homecoming.”

Heinlen cofounded the project, now in its third year, with former student teacher Amie Krenkel, and she currently shares sponsor duties with program aide Aracely Diaz. “We have worked together to significantly grow the closet of the last few years,” Heinlen said.

Access to the closet varies, but this year students and staff can visit Room 512 before school, during intervention, at fifth-hour lunch or after school by appointment. No specific requirements are needed to “shop” at the closet.

Students, staff and area residents can donate during the school year by bringing items to the closet or just inside Stagg’s main entrance.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our entire Stagg community – students, staff and local community alike – all of whom donate consistently throughout the school year,” Heinlen said.

Clothing and accessories for teens and adults in gently used condition are welcome, although items for boys and men are in short supply. “We need more male clothing. We have a few students who come in looking for men’s apparel. We take all we can because every student has different needs and wants, and having a variety of everything is always helpful,” she shared.

Although donations fluctuate every week, the closet consistently receives contributions.

“We are deeply grateful for every donation, large or small, as each item plays an important role in supporting our Stagg community and ensuring we can meet the diverse needs of our students,” she said. “While visits vary throughout the year, we love seeing our community come together, especially during the holidays and around major school events like homecoming, the turnabout/spring dance.”

With homecoming scheduled for Sept. 19, donations of fancier items are needed. “We welcome a wide variety of formal wear, including dresses, suits, dress shoes and accessories for all students. Everything is appreciated, and we strive to offer styles that cater to diverse tastes,” Heinlen said.

Students can earn up to eight hours of service hours per semester by donating gently used items, placing them in a bag with the student’s first and last name and ID number. “We offer one service hour for every two items donated,” she explained.

Charger’s Closet has become a team project, including help from the students and teacher Gordon Oliver in Technology & Engineering Education creating a sign for Charger’s Closet, and Special Service’s PALS apparel business designing drawstring bags sold there.

Keeping the closet organized isn’t easy and requires a “collaborative, hands-on effort” mainly from the school‘s Fashion & Interior Design students, Heinlen said. “They manage the entire cycle – receiving, sorting, cleaning, tagging and displaying the donations – which provides them with valuable retail and organizational experience.”

One student who spends time working at the closet is senior Jocelyn Jimenez, who is doing an independent study with Heinlen after taking Fashion & Interior Design 1 and 2. She’s volunteered there on and off for two years.

“Daily tasks include freshening up the racks, sorting any new donations to get them on the shelf and adding them to our overall donation count. I’d also help dress up mannequins to display around and outside the room as well as create promotional materials to share with the student body,” she said.

Jimenez herself has shopped at the closet, and her favorite item is an “oversized brown sweater with the Dunkin’ Donuts logo embroidered on the corner,” she said, adding that she’s donated at least 30 items from formal dresses to T-shirts and sweaters.

She began volunteering after taking a field trip to the Merchandise Mart with Heinlen and talking about the project.

“I loved that it was not only a way to teach students about sustainability but also allowed students a free local way to get new clothes. Since it was open to all students, it removes any stigma and made it something fun for all students,” she said. “I love that it’s not only for students that are less fortunate because it makes it less embarrassing and something you can do with friends. It’s a great space for students and staff.”

She encouraged others to donate. “Not only is it a simple way to declutter your space, but one person’s trash is always someone else’s treasure. There are many students who do not have access to new clothes whenever they would like, so the Charger’s Closet is also a way to uplift our peers.”

Senior Lucia Miranda called volunteering for the closet last year “an incredibly rewarding experience,” adding that setting it up taught her a lot. “From organizing donations to managing the space, every step was a learning opportunity. We had to sort through piles of clothes, ensuring everything was clean and presentable. Then we arranged the (room) in a way that made it easy for students to find what they needed. It was a team effort that brought us all closer.

“Through this project, I gained valuable skills in organization, teamwork and community service,” she added. “But more importantly, I experienced the joy of giving back and making a small difference in the lives of my peers. Charger’s Closet not only provides clothing but also fosters a sense of community and support within our school, and I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

It seems that the vision for the project is coming true, as this statement from the original proposal shows: “What started as one idea has grown into something bigger than any one classroom. Charger’s Closet is proof that when people come together with a shared passion and vision, something amazing gets built,” it reads.

“The (clothing) drive is designed to collect gently used clothing from all students and staff. The purpose of this initiative is to support a culture of giving back, sustainability, and empathy, while also providing all students the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways.”

Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.