By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — In the basement of Claremont’s Stevens High School students, parents and staff alike are going to Courtney’s Closet.
The “closet” is a school district wide resource for families in need, where they are able to obtain necessary day to day items. Recently, Claremont Savings Bank offered a donation to Courtney’s Closet as part of New Hampshire Banks Give Back for the month of October.
Courtney Porter, school social worker for SAU 6, had the vision of Courtney’s Closet roughly ten years ago while working at the Claremont Middle School. Seeing disproportionate need in the district she began utilizing lockers at the school to put donated items in as a way to store them for students. A decade later Porter has moved to Stevens High School where just across from her office, is what is now known as Courtney’s Closet.
Porter describes the space as a “boutique store” where individuals can grab the things they need in a private setting. The closet offers everything from socks, shoes, winter coats, non-perishable food, hygiene products, school supplies and formal wear.
“We know that kids really struggle with learning when we aren’t meeting those other really incredibly important needs. How do you function and understand what’s happening in math if you have to be focused on whether or not you have a coat or shoes,” Porter said of the importance of being able to offer the resource to families.
According to the most recent census, Claremont has a poverty rate of 16% and a 5% houselessnes rate according to the McKinney-Vento definition. This combined with significant home life disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, have created a significant amount of need in Claremont for families to have opportunities like this.
SAU 6 has done a wonderful job approaching the needs of the students from a whole child approach. Families are recovering from the loss of everything that happened during the pandemic. It is really hard for everyone. That is why for our students to be able to succeed we need to address the social emotional needs, physical needs and what’s happening in the home,” said Porter.
According to Porter, it truly takes a village though and without the help of the school district, local businesses and community organizations this effort wouldn’t be possible. Aside from the financial donations from the Claremont Savings Bank, Courtney’s Closet receives support from the Claremont Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, First Congregational Church and Claremont Soup Kitchen as well as individuals in the community. According to Porter, Tina Bergeron who serves as the grant manager at the Elks Club has been able to obtain grants specifically targeted at helping Courtney’s Closet. Earlier this year the Elks Club held a footwear drive where all of the donations went toward the closet.
Porter and the SAU 6 school district invite any families with students in the district who are in need during these difficult times to stop in. All items are free and each individual’s privacy is given the utmost care.
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