CLEVELAND — In her more than 30 years of teaching, Deborah Evans has seen far too many students who simply don’t have the supplies they need. And as she told 3News Special Contributor Matt Kaulig, when students don’t have what they need, attendance rates drop.
"If they have dirty clothes, they don't want to come. If they don't have shoes, they don't want to come. So those are real obvious to everyone," she explained. "But when they don't have supplies, they don't want to come either."
Ms. Evans, as she’s known to her students, is a reading instructor at Miles School in Cleveland. And like so many amazing teachers, she always puts her students' needs first.
"We want to make the educational experience, the best experience," she said. "And prior to having something like this, we'd have to spend our own money and, and we always do....So this place is definitely, definitely needed."
This place is the Shoes and Clothes for Kids warehouse on Perkins Avenue in Cleveland. Evans has been coming here for about 15 years now, not only to “shop” the aisles for her own classroom and students, but also to volunteer - helping to distribute much-needed items like school supplies, crafting materials, clothes, personal hygiene products and so much more.
Every item is completely free.
Executive Director Terry Uhl explained to 3News anchor Jay Crawford that the organization has been providing these items to students for the past 53 years.
Partnering with community organizations, Shoes and Clothes for Kids takes care to only provide new items to students, families and teachers. Nothing here is used, or a hand me down.
"Kids really like new stuff. It makes them feel special," Evans explained. It makes them feel like they're just regular students, you know, regular students and that socioeconomics has nothing to do with it."
Through distribution events, special programs, and supply shopping here at their warehouse, the organization serves nearly 25 thousand kids in Cuyahoga County alone each year. As Uhl explained, their goal is to give students more than the minimum.
"We give school supplies, socks, underwear," he explained. "It's everything we can versus just one uniform....and what you see here is not what will be here next week, or next month, it is a continuing change of supplies."
Doing their part to help eliminate barriers to student success, it's the power of inspiration and a gift that keeps giving, no matter how small.
If you're interested in volunteering, donating or learning more, visit sc4k.org or call 216.881.7463.