News Summary
The Knox County Schools Clothing and Resource Center is now managed by Knox County Schools to better support students in need. The center, operational since 1935, provides essential clothing items from community donations and serves students across 74 schools. Social workers help identify those in need, ensuring each package includes multiple outfits and necessities. The program also addresses additional needs like hygiene and food, while relying on community support. Volunteers are needed, especially for laundry tasks, to help the center meet its growing demands.
Knoxville, Tennessee – The Knox County Schools Clothing and Resource Center is transitioning to the management of Knox County Schools, a change implemented in April 2023. This transition aims to enhance support for students in need throughout the district. The center, which has been operational since 1935, provides essential clothing items such as shirts, pants, shoes, socks, and underwear, all sourced from community donations.
The Clothing and Resource Center operates under the Student Culture Department of Knox County Schools, ensuring that the needs of students are directly addressed. School social workers play a crucial role in this initiative, as they work closely with families to identify and refer students who may benefit from the center’s offerings. Each clothing package prepared for students includes a week’s worth of outfits, as well as a sufficient supply of socks and underwear.
Since the beginning of February, the center has successfully served 263 students across 74 schools in the district. The program’s distribution model is designed to remove transportation barriers that may prevent families from accessing clothing resources. Referrals to the center are made through school counselors or social workers, making it easier for students to receive the help they need.
The center’s efforts extend beyond just providing clothing. It addresses a variety of additional needs, including housing, food, hygiene supplies, and mental health support. In emergency situations, the center has provided immediate assistance to families, helping those who have faced crises such as losing their home to a fire.
Two full-time staff members manage the center’s operations, while the work is significantly supported by dedicated volunteers. As part of its expansion plan, the center aims to stock clothing centers directly in all schools, further increasing accessibility for students in need.
Despite its strong community support, the center is currently facing challenges, particularly regarding inventory. There is a pressing need for donations, especially children’s shoes. Community members are encouraged to drop off donations at Cedar Bluff Preschool on school days between 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Volunteers are also sought to assist with laundry and operational tasks. Presently, the center has only one on-site washing machine, necessitating volunteers to transport clothes to nearby laundromats for cleaning. There are plans to increase the number of washers and dryers to improve processing efficiency, enabling quicker service for families in need.
The support from the local community has proven pivotal since Knox County Schools assumed management of the Clothing and Resource Center. The goal is to ensure no student in the district has to go without essential clothing, thereby fostering a more conducive learning environment and promoting overall student success.
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Additional Resources
- WBIR: Knox County Schools Clothing Center
- WATE: Social Workers Proposal for Clothing Center
- Knox News: CareCuts for Knoxville Homeless
- Knoxville Moms: Kids UT Apparel Guide
- WBIR: Management Changes at Clothing Center
- Wikipedia: Clothing
- Google Search: Knox County Schools
- Google Scholar: Education Resources for Students
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Clothing Assistance
- Google News: Knoxville Community Support
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
