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Frontier friends reviving supply closet to help fellow students

By Kristen Hainkel 3 min read

NEW MATAMORAS -- Frontier High/Middle School senior Emily Collins and junior Amara Geese are helping their fellow students with various needs through a community supply closet at the school.

"(The Cougar Closet) is a room in the school that has clothes and toiletries for students. They can grab anything as needed," teacher Ashley Bookover said.

Brookover said she started a similar concept at the school around 15 years ago but couldn't keep it up due to the demands of her teaching schedule. Last school year, then-senior Franki Flesher-Pethtel and Collins inspected the closet, which is located off the media room.

"We noticed how everything was messed up and unorganized and had older products. Franki left school early for work. Amara started helping me at the end of last year," Collins said.

The closet is supplied with toiletries such as travel shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, feminine supplies and tissues. Brookover said Collins was paying for supplies out of her pocket.

The closet evolved to include clothes, shoes and coats. Brookover, Collins, and Geese put together a flier in the school to encourage donations. One notable occasion included students donating six formal gowns to the Too Small Shop in Parkersburg.

Brookover said the shop class built additional shelving for the closet to help organize it. Clothes are sorted by type, and supplies are sorted in individual plastic containers.

Collins said the closet is open to anyone in the school.

"You can go in and get what you need, no questions asked," she said.

On Nov. 20, Collins and Geese delivered approximately five boxes and four bags of clothing and supplies to a nonprofit organization. Collins said helping others benefits her mental health.

"I had a time where I was down. Now that I'm not, I want to give back to my community," she said.

Brookover applied for a grant that paid for more closet supplies such as shampoo, towels, deodorant, shirts, gym shorts, folders, paper and pencils. She said the joy on Collins' and Geese's faces was palpable when they opened the boxes.

"They were so excited, even though it wasn't for them. I thought, these girls are for real. They have kind hearts," she said.

Collins said helping others through the Cougar Closet gives her a sense of accomplishment.

"Sometimes I go around school and I'll see someone wearing a shirt I donated, and it makes me so happy," she said.

Geese added she enjoys giving back with her best friend.

"I'm helping people with my favorite person. It's a win-win situation," she said.

Brookover said she appreciated Geese and Collins putting in the time to maintain the Cougar Closet.

"These girls have put forth the effort. I started this 15 years ago, and they brought it back. This wouldn't happen without them," she said.

Geese and Collins are FFA members, with five and six years of membership respectively. Collins said she hoped to get donations for FFA's toy drive benefiting Akron Children's Hospital. Donations will be accepted in Frontier's main office until Dec. 13.

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