Clothes, shoes, hats and even hygiene products now have a home in the new Hopeful Threads closet.
Located in the E100 hallway, Hopeful Threads is a place where students can pick up a pair of shoes, a Quaker shirt to wear to an event – or even a toothbrush. Born from the idea for an AP WE service project in the AP Seminar class, juniors Maria Kovach and Nisha Patel and seniors Jacey Lowe and Claire Harris have worked hard to make this idea a reality.
“We wanted a place that not only provided clothes for students in need but also it is a space that feels like a boutique,” Patel said. “We came up with this closet idea from a TikTok we saw, and then we just expanded on it.”
They first started by getting their idea approved by the administration. With some help from Plainfield Kiwanis, the group started to plan further. In order to get supplies for their closet, they decided to host a donation drive. Putting flyers and advertisements around the school got the word out, resulting in a successful collection.
“It was not too tough to get clothes. We had bins around the school and were taking donations from the community, so we had a good supply,” said Patel. With all of the donations, they will be able to keep stocking the closet, although they may do more clothing drives in the future.
“This closet not only holds items for those who may not have access to them at home, but it also caters to a variety of situations, such as if you spill on your shirt or don't like your outfit for the day,” said Harris. “Maybe you are even looking to freshen up some clothes in your closet that will make you feel confident, or if you need some Plainfield gear for a football game.”
The group hopes that students having access to these items will boost not only confidence, but grades and focus. They believe that feeling more comfortable with what students wear will lead to better school performance. “Research indicates that students perform better in school and achieve better grades when they feel comfortable in their environment,” explained Harris.
Mental Wellness Counselor Bridget Luce describes already seeing the effect of offering this option to students.. “I have already seen some students being able to utilize it for new shirts or pants when they have been in need,” she said.“It has really made a difference in those students' confidence and how their days are going.”
Open for any student to access throughout the school day, all one needs to do is fill out a form. For any student needing similar additional resources, Luce said, “There are some clothing closets at a few local churches that help with some clothing resources for families in the community. At school, Ms. Coffelt has some hygiene products and items in the nurse's office.” Luce said she can also help connect students with resources in school or outside of school if needed.
“We hope students are able to use our space, and also we hope students find the place welcoming and charming,” said Patel.
Story by Reese Napier
Photos by Andee Ward