Teacher aide creates clothing closet for OA students

At Opportunity Academy, teacher aide Shana McGinnis has taken on a heartfelt mission: a “take-what-you-need” clothing closet for students and families at OA easily featuring over a thousand pieces of clothing in all sizes, styles and seasons.

Students, families and staff are able to access the closet, located in a former locker room, and take what they need. McGinnis hopes the closet and items from it this can break down stigmas around second-hand clothing.

“They get excited that there's actually clothes that they would buy if they could, clothes that they want to be seen in and no, they're not going to be embarrassed once they see that the other kids enjoy it too,” McGinnis said.

On her own time, McGinnis makes a weekly pilgrimage to a resale shop in Wichita, filling her car with donations the resale shop can’t sell. She spends Saturdays sorting the clothing and takes donations that may not fit student preferences to other local non-profits, like New Jerusalem Mission and M-Care (Wichita). 

Students are brought to the converted locker room one or two at a time and encouraged to take what they need. McGinnis notes, they often will choose to take clothing for their siblings. 

Some students hesitate, unsure what to expect or unaccustomed to receiving such kindness. McGinnis or an OA staff member are there to gently assure them.

“These clothes are for you, and they're just as good as any you'd buy in a store,” McGinnis repeated.

Students have taken to calling the clothing closet, “The Drip Closet” which McGinnis jokes is subject to change at any time. 

The closet is a reminder that the act of giving has the power to transform lives and bring warmth.

“Even though it's a lot of work, I've just always loved seeing a need and seeing if somebody else has surplus and somebody else is in need, and we can just get them together somehow. I just love that,” McGinnis said.

If anyone wishes to contribute to ongoing needs at OA, McGinnis would accept any clothing, shoes, book donations or individually-wrapped snacks.