Community members of District 202 gathered on November 6 to donate winter items for the Holiday Care Closet event. The initiative aims to provide every child in the community with necessary winter gear as temperatures fall.
The Care Closet, established earlier this year, assists District 202 families needing clothing or school supplies. Its first free shopping event occurred in August. Students, staff, the CAPE organization, and other community members contributed a variety of winter essentials such as jeans, pants, shoes, jackets, snow pants, boots, and dress clothes.
The program benefits not only the community but also offers vocational advantages for students in District 202’s Post Secondary Transition and Education Program (P-STEP) and Functional Based Instruction at Plainfield South and East high schools. It supports Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students with disabilities by providing work-based learning experiences and workplace readiness training focused on communication and teamwork skills.
Christina Edwards, Director of Health Services for District 202 said: “The November 6 donation drive is a testament to the power of community.” She expressed gratitude towards contributors who helped ensure that Plainfield families have warm clothing for winter.
Families can participate in the upcoming Holiday Care Closet event by reaching out to their child's school social worker for more information about accessing these resources.