LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Layering up is a must during the winter months and the Clothing Assistance Program at Jefferson County Public Schools is helping students do just that while the weather outside is bitterly cold.

What You Need To Know

  • Jefferson County Public Schools Clothing Assistance Program helps students in the bitter cold with warm clothes

  • Volunteer Ann Stein spent Thursday helping at the Clothing Assistance Program

  • JCPS employees collected donated items for classrooms and students

Inside, volunteer Ann Stein spent the day sorting donated clothes.

“This is all the used uniforms. They already are sorted, all the everyday clothes, non-uniform items. Now I’ve got to process all this and try to put the best quality out here,” Stein said.

For at least the last seven years, Stein’s volunteered her time at the Clothing Assistance Program.

“I was a retired teacher from Johnson Traditional Middle (School) for 28 years,” Stein said.

She said the community’s efforts have been generous with donations. There are coats, clothes, and more on the racks. But now, it’s about making sure these warm clothes go to families in need.

“As a teacher, I know I can’t teach a child who’s cold in the classroom. It’s not - no matter if I dance on the table, it’s not going to help if they’re not nice and comfortable. So we try to focus also on helping them get a good night’s sleep with a good pair of pajamas, some nice cuddly socks to wear at night, you know, like house slippers, socks, things like that, to make sure, one, they get a good night’s sleep,” Stein said.

Add to that, she explains, handing out undershirts, long sleeve thermal shirts and more to layer up. 

“(I’m) hoping to find something that would be the right size and have long sleeves for a boy who is an elementary school boy,” said Justin Willis, who leads the Clothing Assistance Program.

Willis sees it as his mission to provide warmth. He said he received several messages from JCPS employees who were noticing students getting off the school bus without coats.

“And maybe they left it at home, whatever (it is). But if they if they need one, they’re going to get one and that was just kind of a neat thing that I am proud to work with hard-working folks all year round to make sure that kids are supported and looked out for,” Willis said.

As a former writing teacher herself, Stein is grateful to the community.

“Thank you to the community for looking out for the kids and for helping the teachers out there so that they can teach and not have to worry about at least this small element of the child,” Stein said.

So far, this school year since July 2023, the Clothing Assistance Program has helped 4,000 JCPS students.

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