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Friends of Augusta Savage open clothes closet at Bennett

Assortment of clothes, shoes, toiletries available at elementary school

By Bruce Hope bruce@opcfla.com
Posted 2/19/20

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Many children in America come from less than stable financial situations. They may be lacking in proper nutrition, parental guidance or serviceable clothing.

With the help …

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Friends of Augusta Savage open clothes closet at Bennett

Assortment of clothes, shoes, toiletries available at elementary school


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Many children in America come from less than stable financial situations. They may be lacking in proper nutrition, parental guidance or serviceable clothing.

With the help of the Friends of Augusta Savage organization, members of school administration, Green Cove Springs Mayor Steven Kelley and others, Charles E. Bennettt is lending a helping hand with the grand opening of a clothes closet.

The Friends of Augusta Savage organization has a mission “to enrich the quality of life for the community by providing activities and events that promote education, health and wellness and the arts. To preserve local history through the arts and education.”

They have, however, gone above and beyond to promote education, health and wellness of local students.

The friends of Augusta Savage are teaming with Bennett elementary school to combat one of the major issues facing many of its students.

One hundred percent of Bennett Elementary students are currently receiving either reduced or free lunch. Many of them also need clothes that are better fitting or in better condition.

Enter the Friends of Augusta Savage, who works with the school [who provided an entire portable], to create a community clothes closet that can help children in need to overcome this problem.

“We have one of the board members who has taught in the Clay County School system for over 46 years,” said Margaree Champion, a member of the Friends of Augusta Savage. “One day we were discussing the children and she started talking about the kids and the fact they didn’t have sweaters and shoes and other things.

“We thought we needed to do something for the community. The art program was important, but the kids didn’t have the necessary clothing, especially during the wintertime. This would be one of our premier projects for the year. From there, it just started to spread.”

The ribbon was cut and onlookers invited into the portable to see an assortment of clothing and shoes neatly arranged by size onto racks and shelves for those in need. There also were available toiletries.

Green Cove Springs Mayor Steven Kelley has three children currently attending Bennett.

“It’s so important to me,” he said. “To have something in place like this that can help prevent any kids from facing criticism or anything like that based on how they look, or how they're dressed or if they have any needs. If they come when it’s too cold outside and they need a jacket, or if they have shoes that maybe they’ve been wearing since last year and they come in here by the recommendation of staff or administration can get themselves a new pair shoes…it's so important.”

“This is dear to my heart, “said Bennett Asst. Principal Dimitra Mainer. “I started my teaching career here. My first eight years were here at C.E.B., and now I’m back as an administrator. Before, there were needs, and a lot of the needs came straight out of teachers’ pockets. To have Friends of Augusta Savage come and put something here where kids can get new clothes where they don’t normally get new clothes or get new shoes and we can just have something right here, immediate to meet that need. Then we can move back into the need that they’re here for, which is education. I greatly appreciate the partnership with them.”

“It makes me feel proud,” said Champion. “It also makes me feel like we are giving the kids a leg up so they can reach their maximum potential.”