Frisco Threads, a free clothes closet operated by the district and the Council of PTAs, launched this year, but Palmer said the council has been planning this initiative for years.
FISD has more than 8,200 economically disadvantaged students, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. The district’s community relations team performs outreach to local organizations that provide students with food, hygiene products and other necessities.
Frisco Threads will take care of the need for clothing, and it eliminates the step of contacting outside resources, said Allison Miller, FISD’s director of community relations.
“We're just thankful that the Council of PTAs decided to bring the clothes closet to Frisco ISD so we can better provide [for] our students in need of clothing,” Miller said.
She added that the district will continue to refer families to organizations that meet other needs such as housing and medical care.
Students who would like to “shop” from the closet should contact their school counselors.
The closet operates out of the Acker Special Programs Center on Hickory Street. Frisco Threads staff are accepting sizes 3T through adult XXL to fit students in preschool through 12th grade. Clothes Closet Chair Tara Childers said the items they need most are the smallest and largest sizes.
Gently used shirts, sweaters, hoodies, pants, shorts and coats are accepted, in addition to winter hats, gloves and belts. Donations of tennis shoes, underwear, bras and socks must be new.
The Frisco Threads website has an Amazon wish list where donors can select items. The site also has an updated list of the sizes needed. Donors should drop donations off at the Acker Special Programs Center on Mondays from 9 a.m.-noon.
In partnership with the Council of PTAs, interns from Aspire, the district’s program for special education students ages 18 and up, will help operate the closet. Throughout the year, schools will host clothing drives. Aspire interns will pick up and deliver donations and assist staff with sorting and washing clothes. They will also give assistance to Frisco Threads patrons.
“[The partnership] gives us a volunteer base that is there every day that can do a lot of the hands-on stuff, and then it's a great opportunity for the Aspire students to learn lifelong skills, so it's a win-win for both organizations,” Palmer said.
