World Kindness Day is extra special in the Manchester Township School District (MTSD) this year for so many reasons! The day was welcomed at Manchester Township High School (MTHS) with a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the long-anticipated Care Closet!
The Care Closet was born a year ago when MTSD Speech Language Specialist Stephanie Boyd noticed a need among students for personal care products and laundry services. Ms. Boyd applied for a grant at the end of the last school year to support The Care Closet initiative. The grant was awarded to the MTSD by the Ocean County Youth Services and approved by the Board of Education to move forward. The year-long effort of uncovering and constructing an appropriate, private, and spacious area of the high school into The Care Closet then began. Thanks to the hard work of our custodial team who constructed the space, MTHS Junior Lina Taylor who planned the design and layout of the closet, who then together with her Girl Scout Troop and their families painted the walls and trim, The Care Closet is what it is today!
The Care Closet at MTHS is a District Hub. As of today's official ribbon cutting, students from across the school district can access items in The Care Closet that were generously provided by the grant and community donations. The closet is full of personal care products, a washer and dryer, and even some food and clothing items. In addition to the grant, generous donations came to MTSD from our students and staff, from the MTHS National Honor Society and Key Clubs, from High Ridge Brands LLC, and from Rite Aid who donated extra shelves. Lina Taylor and her Girl Scout Troop not only raised donated items for The Care Closet but Lina then proudly dedicated her own time to stocking the shelves with all of the donated products. This truly is a community effort where everyone came together to provide this safe and helpful resource for Manchester's students.
Mrs. Pedroza, Superintendent of Schools, was among the many who joined in today's ribbon-cutting ceremony. She shared with the group her gratitude for their "unwavering commitment and hard work in supporting the development of The Care Closet for our Manchester Township students. Your dedication to this project will help foster a positive and inclusive environment for all. Providing students with access to essential hygiene products and other necessary items builds more than confidence—it strengthens their social and emotional well-being, encourages positive school attendance, and supports academic growth.
The need for access to these essential products has never been more urgent. With the rise in prices due to inflation, many students face daily challenges in maintaining their health, dignity, and self-esteem. Confidence Closet will help alleviate these barriers, ensuring that students can focus on learning and building positive relationships. Your efforts will not only enhance each student’s daily experience but will also foster a stronger sense of school and community connection. This initiative is essential for making sure every student feels supported, valued, and ready to succeed."
(Pictured from Left to Right: Shelby Voorhees, Youth Services Commission Coordinator, Ocean County; Dennis Adams, MTHS Principal; Stephanie Boyd, MTSD Speech Langauge Specialist; Lina Taylor, MTHS Student; Diane Pedroza, Superintendent of Schools; Clarice Capala, MTSD Mental Health Specialist; Alex George, Director of Student & Administrative Services)
Students in MTHS can access The Care Closet by scanning the codes found around flyers across the school to schedule times when they can confidentially access personal care products. They are also encouraged to schedule laundry services. The supplies at the MTHS Care Closet also support The Care Cubbard located at Manchester Township Middle School (MTMS) as well as elementary school needs as requested by those schools.
Thank you again to all of those involved in this project truly showcasing on National Kindness Day the generosity, compassion, and dedication our staff, students, and community have to our district’s mission.