Filling a need: Schools in Monroe County create 'stores' to serve students

Last spring, just days before graduation, a senior stopped by the Monroe High School counseling office. He couldn’t afford to buy a cap and gown.

Scott Hochradel, a now-retired counselor, went to Trojan Outfitters and got the student what he needed for the graduation ceremony.

Trojan Outfitters is a room inside MHS that’s set up like a retail store, but everything is free to students in need. Outfitters offers the expected clothing and personal care items, but also some more unique items, such as graduation attire, backpacks, shoes and formal dresses.

Many other area schools offer clothing and care items for students. For some schools, the offerings might be a simple box of clothing in the school office, while others, like MHS, Monroe Middle School and Summerfield Junior/Senior High School, have created retail store-like settings.

Monroe Middle School

MMS was possibly the first Monroe Public Schools building to move beyond the clothes box to offer a full store.

The store, which is also named Trojan Outfitters, was started in 2015 by Monroe High School graduate Grant Prater.

Prater, then 16, created Trojan Outfitters for his Eagle Scout project. He and his family spent eight months building dressing rooms, installing racks and acquiring donated clothing.

"I wanted a challenge. I wanted to help people out, and this will be able to stay around for a long time," Prater told The News in 2015.

Prater’s store continues today and offers free items, such as clothes, socks, personal care items and more to students in need.

This winter, a bunch of winter clothing items were given to Outfitters by Monroe Community Credit Union.

“We have students visit our clothing closet every day, and we are always looking to restock,” Sara Staten, MMS principal, said.

To donate to Outfitters, contact MMS at 734-265-4000.

Monroe High School

MHS had a clothes closet for several years, but, in 2020-21, the Rotary Club of Monroe turned the closet into the Trojan Outfitters store.

Several Rotarians and architect Mark Kohler worked during the pandemic, painting and building dressing rooms.

“The old room was small and stuffed with many items stored in boxes and crates. The high school allocated a larger room, and the Rotary donated walls, fixtures, paint, labor, sweatpants, shirts, leggings and hygiene products,” MHS said.

Today, student service providers take students in need to shop at Trojan Outfitters.

“The students are impressed by how nice the space is and how many quality items we have,” Stephanie Sconochia, an MHS student service provider, said.

Currently, Trojan Outfitters serves about 20 students a week.

“Most students come for just one to two items at a time. Occasionally, we do have students who have need for more than that,” Sconochia said.

In January, Trojan Outfitters gave out 32 formal dresses and many pairs of shoes to MPS students.

In all, about 800 items are given away each year. Many are personal care items. Among the most requested are deodorant and feminine hygiene products. Popular clothing items are sweatshirts, leggings, sweatpants and formal dresses.

The store has gotten a few windfall donations recently.

Last fall, James and Kelli Rostash learned about Trojan Outfitters when their daughter, Marisa, transferred to MHS.

The family made a large donation to the store: 200 red sweatshirts, 50 gray sweatpants and 60 pairs of black leggings.

“We just heard they needed them. We wanted to help out the school,” Kelli Rostash said. “The school absolutely appreciated it. We’re just happy to be able to help.”

Directions Credit Union offered a couple of free shredding events. In exchange for shredding, participants brought items to donate to Trojan Outfitters.

“Directions Credit Union made a large donation of hygiene items to the Trojan Outfitters as well as a cash donation,” Sconochia said. “We appreciate the donations from local businesses and also appreciate any cash donations. A special thanks to an MHS parent Lisa Middleton for organizing all of our donations.”

Trojan Outfitters’ biggest needs are currently size small and medium sweatpants and leggings, women's underwear, and heavy-duty, large backpacks.

To donate items, email MHS Student Services Office employees Jamila Clark at clark1@monroe.k12.mi.us, Tammy Smith at smith2@monroe.k12.mi.us or Sconochia at sconochia@monroe.k12.mi.us.

Arborwood Elementary

Arborwood Elementary in Monroe went from a clothing closet to the Eagle Outfitters store in 2021.

“We have always had a clothing closet in some form here at the school,” Kellie Gulley, Arborwood secretary, said. “Our Arborwood students have a safe place to turn within their school where an immediate need is met. This in turn helps them feel good about themselves and enables them to return to class with confidence.”

In 2021, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and its pastor, the Rev. Meloyde Surgeon VanOudheusden, along with Jason Aaron, MCOP youth coordinator for the Opportunity Center at the Arthur Lesow Community Center, organized and painted the space.

“Jason Aaron and his wife, Amanda Aaron, worked together to assemble and organize the Arborwood clothing closet to make it more store-like,” Wendy Krouse, community engagement coordinator for MPS, said.

Eagle Outfitters offers coats, shirts, pants, socks, undergarments, hats, gloves and shoes in many sizes.

“Some days are busier than others, but everyday there is a need for something,” Gulley said.

All items were donated.

Last school year, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church donated hats, gloves, coats and other clothing items to Eagle Outfitters. It also provided a hygiene kit for every sixth grader. This year, the church donated sensory blankets.

The North Star Five Team from Coldwell Banker Haynes Real Estate Inc. donated coats to Eagle Outfitters this year.

Currently the biggest needs are size adult large coats, pants and shoes. Children’s size small and medium pants also are needed as are hats and gloves.

Donations can be made by contacting the Arborwood South office at 734-265-3800.

Other MPS schools

Nearly all of MPS' schools have some items available to those in need. Waterloo, Custer, Raisinville and Manor elementaries and Orchard Center High School said they have clothing closets.

“Manor has some items available if there is a need, and they collect items from the staff if a specific need comes up,” Jenny Johns, district climate and engagement liaison, said.

To learn about donating, contact the school.

Summerfield Junior/Senior High School

Summerfield Junior/Senior High School in Petersburg opened the Bulldog Care Closet late last school year.

It was started by student members of Leaders Education and Advocating for Peers (LEAP) and their adviser, Shana Sadoski, school social worker.

“I originally started the group to help empower our students to get more involved and invested in the school community. One of the biggest concerns I heard from the group was that they felt like support for students ended at the elementary building. The students wanted to create an environment that was supportive to, not only the students in the junior/senior high school, but to anyone in the community who had needs,” Sadoski said.

LEAP asked fellow students what they most needed.

“The students then planned a fundraiser and hosted a Color Run at the end of the school year. They asked for donations as payment into the Color Run. Donations could include clothing, shoes, school supplies, dry goods, toiletries and feminine care products,” Sadoski said. “The community really showed up with the donations, and the students got to work on finding a space to hold our donations that was easily accessible and a ‘normal’ part of the school building.”

A hallway book room was chosen for the Care Closet.

“We had to work hard to clean out all of the old textbooks and novels that had been collected for 40+ years,” Sadoski said.

Students washed and folded clothes and organized them.

“The Care Closet has been an important part of showing students support by creating food boxes to give to families at any time of need, offering winter clothing, including coats and boots, and feminine hygiene products, toiletries, etc.,” Sadoski said.

Students are referred to the Care Closet.

“All staff are aware of the Care Closet and know to refer a student to me if there is a more personal need. Students have shared the Care Closet with others as well. I have had many students come to my office and ask for things with no fear or embarrassment, as our kids have made it a ‘normal’ part of our school environment,” Sadoski said.

Currently, students are hoping to increase the store’s offerings.

“They have decided they would like to expand the closet to include formal wear for dances. They are currently working on how to do that this spring,” Sadoski said.

To donate, contact the school at 734-279-1035.

Monroe County Community College

Madison Stone, a Monroe High School graduate, was familiar with Trojan Outfitters from her days at MHS. That inspired her to start something similar at Monroe County Community College.

Under the direction of faculty member Melissa Grey, Stone and other students are forming a Care Closet.

It is still in the planning stages, but the Care Closet will be in a new space called Safe Space: A Multicultural Student Center.

The Care Closet will collect donated items, such as baby and household items, clothing, and more and give them to students in need.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Schools in Monroe County create 'stores' to serve students