Red Arrow Closet used by many students at LHS
By Aliina Forester - LHS contributing writer
The Red Arrow Closet
“The Red Arrow Closet is a room supplying a wide variety of needed items to students at no-cost. They accept donations of either gift cards or money so they can buy students new clothes that are in fashion. “
The Red Arrow Closet is a great feature of Lowell High School. They have a wide variety of clothes, shoes, and hygiene supplies for any students who need to access it. Students are able to set-up an appointment to enter the RAC closet with a counselor. The Red Arrow Closet is a room supplying a wide variety of needed items to students at no-cost. They accept donations of either gift cards or money so they can buy students new clothes that are in fashion. One of the big things the RAC didn’t want was to become another thrift store. They didn’t want people showing up with bags of old clothes that students would have to sort through and end-up not wearing.
The Closet started about two years ago and was offered to students who were in need of new clothing in their department. It has evolved and now, not only is for students whose families have financial instability but it’s also for those with other situations, such as forgetting a shirt for gym class or spilling something on their shirt, in which case, instead of walking around with that stained shirt on all day, that student can go into the closet, pick something out, and their own shirt will be washed and given back to them at the end of the day.
The Red Arrow Closet also gets used for dress code situations; if a student’s outfit doesn’t meet the dress code, then that student can go into the Closet and pick something out as a replacement to what they were wearing. Lots of the students who use the closet go to KCTC in the construction program. The Closet provides work boots, pants, and shirts for these students so they can have work-appropriate clothing. They also have scrubs for students who are in the nursing program at KCTC. As the weather changes, the Closet gets used a lot more because kids can get winter jackets, longer pants, and boots, if needed. And as the seasons change, the Closet will stock-up on what is needed for the upcoming season. Near Christmas, they send out a list of needed items, asking for donations, and then pick one student to receive clothing and necessities as a Christmas gift. During the holiday season, donations are generous, which everyone is so thankful for as the Closet is fully-stocked.
However, the Closet needs to be stocked all year-round, not just around the holidays. They have a Facebook page called “The Arrow Clothing Closet @ Lowell High School” where you can personally message them for donations. Mrs. Butkus and Mrs. Winter run the Red Arrow Closet. Mrs. Winter organizes all the new donations and makes the Closet easy to access by having sections based on sizes and clothing by season. Mrs Butkus’ transition skills class maintains the Closet to assure it looks welcoming and stays organized after use. To record what they need to stock- up on, they have an inventory sheet that the students write their name and the items they took out, assuring that high-demand articles are restocked. Overall, the Red Arrow Closet is a great resource for our community and our high school for all students to access if they don’t have it at home.
