Displaced Kids With No Room of Their Own, Have Special Nook in Pacific High School Where They Can Find All Manner of Treasurers

The Safety Net program for students whose families are displaced can’t give kids a room of their own, but it has done the next best thing.

The Indian Closet, which is located in Pacific High School, is where students who may not have the haven of their own room, can find items such as food, hygiene products, school supplies, backpacks, shoes, hair products, hats, gloves, scarfs, cleaning products, and Pre-K through 12^th grade coats and clothes.

Overseeing this unique kids room is Rachel George, the district’s Homeless Social Worker, who was assigned to the Safety Net program last year after a grant was received to aid students whose families are displaced.

Rachel, who seemed to have inherited some micro-management skills from her father, the late Randy George, began by tracking every displaced student to make sure their education and life skills were being met.

“The addition of Rachel to help oversee and support our kids has been a wonderful resource to students and families.  She is able to ensure all students needs are being met and keeps them on track to graduate,”  stated Stephanie Bechard, Homeless Liaison.

In the beginning Safety Net did not dispense items, it just provided funds. But Rachel had a more engaging idea. She tracked the most common items that displaced students needed and began to assemble a cache of those items so students could just come and take what they need. Teachers and counselors, working with the students can also pick up items for them.

PHS assigned her a room, or The Indian Closet, to store the items. Most requested items are typical teen needs, shampoo, hair brushes, jeans, tees and shoes, shoes, shoes.

Safety Net is the brainchild of a group of citizens who solicit funds for displaced students.

“The whole idea behind Safety Net was to make sure that students who were out of the traditional family home due to lost jobs or Pacific floods would have whatever they needed for the same school experience they had before their family difficulties,” said Dan McClain.

A retired teacher, McClain and journalist Pauline Masson launched the Safety Net program in 2015. Former alderman Carol Johnson and Mary Beth Schmidt, RN quickly signed on to help. Rounding out the committee are Debbie Baker and Monica Barrow.

Superintendent Randy George assigned the district Federal Programs Director to interact with students, teachers and counselors and dispense the funds raised by the committee. Stephanie Bechard, now oversees the program.

Monetary donations for the program can be sent to MVR-III Safety Net Program and sent to the district office at 126 North Payne Street, Pacific or online at: https://mvr3.revtrak.net/donations/#/f/safety-net-program-donation.

If you would like to donate items to The Indian Closet, please contact Rachel George at 636-271-1414 or [email protected] to make arrangements. All donated items should be new.  Currently, some needed items include: new elementary student size shoes and clothes, all sizes of new pajamas, new hair brushes, and laundry detergent.

Author: paulinemasson

Pauline Masson, editor/publisher. View all posts by paulinemasson