Staff members at the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Junior-Senior High School found a way to provide a gift that keeps on giving beyond the holidays: the Rebel Clothing Closet.

A cozy, former unused office space has been transformed into the clothing closet, fully stocked with personal care items and freshly laundered gently-used clothing of all sizes for students in need. Shannon Tanner, behavior specialist with the school’s guidance department, said the space came together at the perfect time.

“With everything going on in the world today, making sure your kids have clothes is the last thing families should have to worry about,” she said. “I wanted to make this so kids could come down during the school day if they need it, but also wanted to put it out to families so they, too, could come in.”

Because the junior-senior high school temporarily transitioned to remote learning until mind-January, if a need for the Rebel Clothing Closet arises, students and/or their families may call the main office at (315) 625-5222 or e-mail Tanner at stanner@apw.cnyric.org. Any junior-senior high school staff member may also be contacted, she said, as they will communicate the need for any arrangement to her.

“Depending on how well it goes, we might need a bigger space,” Tanner said.

Donations came in from staff members and the school utilized some unclaimed student materials to stock the shelves. Tanner said the Rebel Clothing Closet also would not have been possible without the help of David Poore, superintendent of buildings and grounds, due to his hard work and donations.