By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

An organization that provides new clothes to needy public school children in Osceola County got a boost Nov. 12 after purchasing more than 100 Reebok sneakers with rebate vouchers.

Kid’s Closet founder and Osceola County School Board Chairperson Cindy Hartig, along with Dana Schafer, Osceola County School District spokeswoman, and Judy Alexander, the Partners in Education specialist for the district, shopped for all sizes, styles and colors before the store officially opened that morning.

“The goal is to get the business partners involved and find creative ways to do that,” Alexander said.

The district has more than 200 active business partners.

“We have an ongoing partnership with Osceola schools,” Lauren Bisio, associate marketing manager for Reebok International, said. “It gets stronger every year.”

Reebok distributes reusable discount cards to Osceola County students. As the cards are used, 10 percent of those sales go to the district in monthly rebate vouchers.

Hartig said hundreds of children have benefited from Kid’s Closet since it opened in September and that donations come in daily.

Social workers identify children through the school system, whether a teacher notices a child only has one uniform shirt or the child’s toes are poking through worn-out sneakers. Social services will meet with the parents in each case.

Social workers then “shop” at Kid’s Closet, which is under the Education Foundation-Osceola County umbrella and will be housed in the foundation’s former space on New Beginnings Road in Kissimmee. Only social workers may shop at Kid’s Closet and no fee is associated with the clothing.

According to the School District, more than 65 percent of Osceola County students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Meredith Griffin, the homeless education liaison for the district, said there are 1,100 homeless students in the county whose families are living in motels along U.S. Highway 192 or in their cars.

This week, shelves are being donated and installed by The Home Depot and Hartig said she anticipates the facility will look more like a store.

The organization accepts new uniform pieces — white or navy polo shirts and bottoms — belts, shoes, socks, undergarments and jackets. Kid’s Closet also accepts monetary donations that will enable the organization to purchase these items.

The foundation will come and collect donations or they can be dropped off at the foundation office, 2310 New Beginnings Road, Kissimmee. Donations are tax deductible.

Schafer encouraged the donation of warmer clothing, especially after last year’s unexpectedly cold winter.

“When the weather turns cold, it breaks your heart to see a kid in just a T-shirt or polo (shirt) and no jacket,” she said. “It’s hard to focus on student achievement when basic needs aren’t met.”