The staff at S.S. Dixon Primary School in Pace wants to make sure local families have what they need when Santa Rosa County schools begin a new school year on August 17. This week the school is offering lightly used clothing and footwear for children and adults.
“Our goal is to help the community,” said Assistant Principal Dan Balsavich.
On Tuesday and Thursday, school staff invited area families to visit their cafeteria and look through their large selection of donated clothes and accessories. Prior to the end of this past school year, school officials sent a request to parents to donate any barely used clothing for their annual clothing drive. Donated items included pants, shirts, shoes and socks for school aged children, the clothing drive also included clothes for adults as well.
In addition to receiving school supplies from local churches and other organizations, Principal Nancy Haupt said majority of the donations come from the school's parents.
Shelley Hamilton, the school's second grade teacher, coordinated this year's event with the assistance of several other teachers who volunteered to organize the clothing. This is Hamilton's first year in volunteering with the clothing drive.
“I just wanted the experience of giving back to the community,” she said.
Hamilton said the attendees have been appreciative of what the school is doing.
“They say things like ‘this is such a blessing of what you are doing' they are just so appreciative, it just makes your heart big,” she said. “It makes you happy that you helped them out.”
Hamilton said the clothing drive is helping families prepare their children for the upcoming school year.
“I have heard them say that they have jackets to wear for the winter now,” she said.
Balsavich estimated more than hundred visited the clothing event last year. He also has also noticed a growing need in the Pace community since the clothing drive restarted three years ago.
“I would definitely say that the need is growing,” he said. “There is a need for it.”
Balsavich said the school will keep the clothing donations for a week or two before donating them to a local church.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: S.S. Dixon aids local families with clothing drive