The Community Closet sits behind a nondescript door, in a hallway tucked in the back of the IHS Library. However, when you walk in, you are immediately met with racks upon racks of clothes spread across two rooms, from winter coats and boots to prom dresses. With a changing room discreetly placed in the corner and carefully styled outfits decorating the walls, it gives the appearance of a thrift store. It even provides bags at the door to carry your discoveries in as you leave. The difference is that the Community Closet is a completely free resource right in our school, open to everyone.
The Community Closet was created in 2019 by IHS librarian Rachel McDonald as just a rack of clothes in a back room at IHS. At the time, Ms. McDonald realized that there was a gap in student resources that she could work to close. “When I was a student here, there was a need [for clothes],” she said. “And then twenty years later when I was an adult working in the building there was still a need.” In the 2022-23 school year, the Community Closet had over 656 student visits, and this school year, there have already been 218 visits so far.
The Community Closet is open to students and staff all day, including during Universal Lunch. Some students visit the Closet because of an immediate need, such as forgetting deodorant or period products, while others are repeat visitors and find clothes for themselves and their families. The Community Closet serves anyone, from newly-arrived refugee families to students facing homelessness to students interested in wearing secondhand clothes and supporting sustainable fashion.
In a world where the fast fashion cycle is constantly spinning faster and faster, the Community Closet offers an opportunity for students to diverge from that track. Secondhand clothing is a great way to reduce your individual impact on the environment by keeping clothes out of landfills. Instead of getting clothes based on the most recent microtrends, acquiring secondhand clothes from places like the Community Closet for items are free and will have a place in your closet for much longer.
McDonald continually seeks new ways to support IHS students. She recently expanded the Community Closet to include food items. What started as a single rack in a back room of the library has expanded to include a refrigerator and freezer. Students can come at any point during the day, including Universal Lunch, to “shop” for various food items that they can take back to support their families.
The Community Closet relies on community support to keep this innovative service running smoothly. Donations are always needed to keep the space stocked with supplies. According to McDonald, they are often in need of winter gear (gloves, hats, and coats), sneakers, sweatpants, and new, unused undergarments. The toiletry section supports a big need from students, and the Closet is always looking for more donations in that area. They also have an Amazon Wishlist, including most needed items, that the public can buy to support the Closet.
The Community Closet is always looking for student volunteers to help with many different tasks. “It’s great for people to come down and volunteer their time, especially when we expand into food,” she explained. “I would definitely appreciate some person power around here.” Volunteers can curate outfits to decorate the walls of the Closet, sort through donations, or help Ms. McDonald with the new updates that the Community Closet is going through.
As a result of McDonald’s hard work, the Community Closet has become an amazing resource for a wide variety of students including recently arrived refugee families, students experiencing homelessness, students putting on fashion shows, and students looking for spirit wear or work clothes. It is free, confidential, and easily accessible for anyone. Whether you are looking to introduce more sustainable practices in your everyday life, or can regularly benefit from the immense resources, the Community Closet is a great addition to our IHS community.