Marina Project: Mom honors late daughter with West Holmes comfort closet to aid others

MONROE TWP. − Teachers have forever been providing their students with supplies or snacks to help make the learning process a little easier for those who need a boost.

In classrooms across the country, comfort closets are trending as community projects. At West Holmes High School, the guidance office has teamed with Becky Hoxworth, a parent who lost her daughter, Marina Hoxworth, unexpectedly in 2015, to put together the Marina Project.

To celebrate what would've been Marina's 27th birthday in April, Hoxworth and West Holmes guidance counselor Dawn O'Donnell have established the Marina Project — a closet of supplies and other basic needs for students in the guidance office at the high school.

Hoxworth tries to honor her daughter's birthday in special ways, and this year she raised funds to provide items for the Marina Project. She has received donations from people all over the country, which has helped to fill a huge bin with items that are available to students when needed.

Marina's legacy: Making a positive difference in the lives of others

"In a class at Mount Vernon Nazarene, Marina wrote in a paper that she wanted to help people even if she was hungry and homeless," Hoxworth said. "Just the opportunity to make a difference in somebody's life so they can be happy is all that matters. She just cared about people so much. And since her death, I wanted to help her continue helping others. Every year I try to do something to help others that she would've been proud of."

And through the Marina Project, Hoxworth is doing just that.

"By building connections with the students, they are not afraid to come up and tell us what they need," O'Donnell said. "Students are welcome to come in and take what they need."

Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) teacher Tess Kinsey and art teacher Sandy Miller have comfort closets in their rooms along the lower level of the high school as well, so adding another place students can go to get something they need on the main floor is a useful addition. Plus, Miller pointed out, the guidance office is a good location for the Marina Project because it likely will lead to questions about who Marina Hoxworth.

"It allows for conversation, and the guidance office is the right place because they have people who are trained to deal with that," Miller said.

Teachers are natural nurturers

O'Donnell noted that teachers are natural nurturers who don't want anything to get in the way of learning. If a student is hungry or worried about supplies they don't have, they can be easily distracted.

Miller has made her own comfort station in both art rooms, so items are accessible to students who need something while classes are in session. Students can get what they need without interruptions.

"I made an Amazon wish list once, and every so often I put it on Facebook, that I need some toothbrushes," Miller said. "I have a former student who contacts me regularly to ask what I need and sends me stuff. And a staff member asked me the other day if I needed anything. Family, friends, all sorts of people have contributed to this."

Miller said providing for students is nothing new. Teachers across the country have long been finding ways to help.

"Teachers just do this," she said. "And part of the reason I started doing this is, I didn't always have what I needed when I was in school. Somebody helped me out. That's why I started doing the prom dress project. I'm just paying it forward."

The prom dress project is also a chance for students to get a dress from a large selection of donated dresses for the special event.

Kinsey also has a comfort station set up in her classroom, which includes food and other supplies for students.

"We not only have a food closet, but we also have personal hygiene products available for anyone who needs them," Kinsey said. "We restock it throughout the year by having little fundraisers, and community members, and teachers who feel like they want to give in some way make donations."

How to help with the Marina Project

Marina's comfort closet at West Holmes High aims to provide students with items that might not be available to them outside of school, remove the burden of fitting in, and promote a culture of giving in the community and among the students.

Hoxworth hopes to establish something similar at the elementary and middle schools. This will be an ongoing project that she sees as Marina's way of continuing to help others.

Anyone can participate by providing the new, unused items, such as small hair brushes, face and body wash for male and female, shampoos and conditioners, dry shampoos, lip balms, feminine hygiene products, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpastes, and more.

Monetary donations can be made at the high school office or items can be purchased and dropped off at the school, 10909 state Route 39.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Marina Project comfort closet aims to help West Holmes High students