With 4,000 hours already volunteered during one school year alone, the Leander ISD PTA Clothes Closet has been supporting their district for over 40 years, providing clothing to students in need with no income or voucher requirements.
With 4,000 hours already volunteered during one school year alone, the Leander ISD PTA Clothes Closet has been supporting their district for over 40 years, providing clothing to students in need with no income or voucher requirements.
Since its start in the 1980s, volunteers with the LISD PTA Clothes Closet have been helping to clothe any student in need enrolled in the Leander district. Beginning at one of the earliest schools open in LISD, the organization kicked into gear when a teacher noticed a need in their classroom for students to have access to clean clothes. What began with just one person in a single classroom blossomed over time into hundreds of people helping in three buildings spread across two locations – one north, tucked between Leander Middle School and LEO Center, and one nouth at River Place Elementary School.
Thousands of outfits have been given out to students in need thanks to the Clothes Closet’s efforts. Each semester, visitors can shop for 10 tops, 10 bottoms, 2 outerwear items (coats, jackets, or hoodies), 5 pairs of brand new socks, 5 brand new underwear, and 2 pairs of shoes. Everything is on an as-needed basis, so families may shop within the same semester until all items have been chosen. Availability looks different for everyone, and they’ve taken that into consideration as well – hours of operation are Tuesdays from 10am-12pm, first and third Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30pm, and one Saturday a month from 10am-12pm, allowing for visitation flexibility.
One of their special events is the Prom Shop – a vastly dramatic switch from their usual services, yet it takes the most time, energy, and money to host. This completely free experience is open to all LISD teenagers and provides resources for them to pick out their perfect prom outfit stress-free. Having only been around for the past few years, it is a newer addition to the Clothes Closet, but what Prom Shop lacks in longevity is made up for in impact with hundreds of teens leaving dressed for the occasion. Volunteers lend a hand with a prep workday where they organize and prepare all the items needed, including beauty products, jewelry, accessories, shoes, dresses, and suit items – the process is thorough, and volunteers closely examine everything before labeling them for distribution. All of these efforts ensure that every attendee can put together their perfect dream look with no concerns!
The LISD PTA Clothes Closet has truly been a blessing for Leander students and families. From providing everyday clothes, to granting prom look wishes, they’ve removed the stress of getting dressed for thousands of kids of all ages – and they’re only getting bigger.
