Kelly, a mother of 3, was feeling hopeless and adrift. She had recently lost her job and was struggling to provide for her three children. She needed clothes and school supplies for her kids and dress clothes for herself so she start interviewing again. Kelly was worried about how she would manage to do it all without any income coming in, especially when she had to worry about providing food for her family and keeping the lights turned on.

Luckily, one of Kelly’s children is a student at Wilkinson Jr. High School, A Community Partnership School. Being A Community Partnership School means students and families have access to health care, food assistance, counseling, mentoring, and more – all where students and their families are comfortable: in their own school. Kelly was nervous at first, she wasn’t comfortable asking for help, but she reached out to the Community Partnership School staff in hopes of finding support. The Expanded Learning Coordinator was more than happy to help her, not only by providing clothes from the school’s clothing exchange, but also offering her the use of their laundry facility and shower, if ever needed. They also signed her up for access to their Monday Kitchen Shelves Pantry and provided her with a list of dates for their monthly food giveaway.

Kelly left the school with a smile on her face. She had found a few suits and nice slacks for herself, personal hygiene products, clothes, and school supplies for her children, and many other resources that she was sure would help her and her family. Through the Community Partnership School, Kelly received more than just clothes and school supplies, she received hope for her future and her children’s future.

Learn more about how you can help families like Kelly’s during some of their toughest times.