A clothes closet for students at McCutcheon High School has reopened with a new look and new energy thanks to efforts of the school’s Students in Action (SIA) group. The students recognized the need and decided to re-launch Mav Threads. 

Sponsor Ebony Gilbert says members of the SIA group solicited donations for clothing and stocked the shelves with personal care items including dental, hair and body care products. The students run the store during lunch periods Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as after school Mondays and Wednesdays. Students sort through donations and help students who come in to shop.

“They have really made this a welcoming experience by making the space fun and inviting, and by making all students who enter feel comfortable taking the things that they need,” says Gilbert. “They love helping the students put together outfits and dressing up the mannequins to make it feel truly like a store. Each day they spend their free time keeping the space organized and making sure people can come in to get what they need.” 

The SIA group presented its Mav Threads project to a panel of judges and received the Gold Banner of Service and Leadership award and was named the overall winner for Indiana. They will represent the state in June in a National Celebration of Service in Indianapolis. In addition, Gilbert was named Advisor of the Year. Students in Action is a student-led service learning organization under the national organization Multiplying Good.

“This project has impacted our group by helping us learn how to take care and run a small store in our own school,” says freshman Ava Lacey. “So far the closet has helped many people to get hygiene products they need and we have even helped some students find clothes for job interviews.”

Sophomore Billy Holden says the project has shown them ways to help the community, as well as strengthen their leadership skills. “We hope that our group will learn to be generous, good hearted, and community-centered,” says Billy. “We hope that through Mav Threads, we will be able to do just that, along with showing our members what kindness can make a difference.”

Sophomore Jacob Buche says the team is excited about the opportunity to be in the national competition: “We received a lot of positive feedback from the judges at the local competition, as well as input from other community leaders. It will be a great experience getting to meet other groups from across the country and make new friends.”

The team is raising funds to participate in the national competition. Donations can be made here or checks may be sent to McCutcheon High School with attention to Students in Action on the envelope and the memo line.