A little brain-storming while on a road trip led Greg and Jami Woodyard to propose a program for Chanute’s Rotary Club that has had far-reaching effects. WHEN THEY first began thinking about a project for their Rotary Club, Greg Woodward said they dismissed providing jackets, school supplies and glasses, because other organizations already were meeting those needs.
Rotary Closet is a place set aside in Chanute’s Elementary School crammed with all sorts of clothing — from undergarments to shirts and pants, as well as shoes — that have helped many students.
The Woodyards, who own Benchwarmers bar and grill in Chanute, told Iola Rotarians of the clothes campaign at their meeting on Thursday.
The idea is simple: Raise money to purchase clothing for students.
“It’s something we may want to pursue in Iola,” Iola President Karen Gilpin said.
Lori Maxwell, principal at McKinley Elementary, allowed, “It would be beneficial. We have lots of toilet accidents, and lots of kids have clothes that don’t fit.”
Jacki Chase, school nurse, said she recently purchased several packages of underwear for boys and girls in various sizes to have available at Iola Middle School.
Like Iola, the Chanute school district has a high percentage of low-income children, but things in the Rotary Closet are not earmarked for kids in any particular circumstance.
Say a kid gets a blood nose during gym. That clean T-shirt from the Rotary Closet will come in handy, said Jami Woodyard.
“We contacted the school nurse, who told us the biggest need was underwear and tennis shoes, and that a lot of kids weren’t adequately clothed,” he said.
Other Chanute Rotarians embraced the idea. Next was to find funding.
Greg Woodyard said an appeal to members probably would have generated enough money for the first year (2012), but they thought a fundraiser would work best.
“We settled on a gala,” Woodyard said, with a band and each member responsible for either filling a table with guests or making something substantial available for a silent auction.
The gala raised about $6,000, or “enough for three or four years of clothing,” said Jami Woodyard.
Also, members were specific in buying new clothing and shoes, and buying them in Chanute.
The chore fell to Jami, who described herself as a “bargain shopper.” She recalled finding brand name knock-off sneakers at Dollar General for $4.50 each; “I bought all they had.”
She also noted that purchases were made of new clothing, rather than shopping second-hand stores or estate sales for one very good reason.
“We don’t want little Johnny to say, ‘That’s my T-shirt you’re wearing,’” Woodyard said.
She said Chanute Elementary’s closet was used daily, and that uplifting stories are common.
“One little boy wanted a pair of shoes of a specific color,” Woodyard recalled. “He wanted to give them to his little sister. They both got a new pair of shoes.”
Out of the closet – Chanute students have access to clothing
