The Colonist Closet Providing for Our Community
Parent volunteers help keep the Colonist Closet full of essentials for students.
September 11, 2019
Over the past few years, the percentage of students suffering hardship or homelessness here at Anaheim High school has increased. Ms. Maldonando, a Family and Community Special Engagement Specialist, along with AHS parents, has been running and organizing the Colonist Closet here at the colony. The Colonist Closet provides donated clothes, shoes, hygiene products, makeup, and canned foods, and more.
Ms. Maldonado put this service together a few years back. It is her third year running the Colonist Closet. She put it together as a resource to provide basic necessities and help students out. “Seeing how happy the students get once they find something that they need. I think that’s the happiest part about it. Seeing that it’s being utilized and that there really is a need for it and that people are using it for what we wanted,” Maldonado responded when asked what she most enjoyed from being a part of the Colonist Closet.
The Colonist Closet is not only for the students in need. It is opened for anyone in our community who is in need. Parents like Gabriela Perez, Maria Hernandez, Sonia Guaman Gibaja, and Adriana Mercado, are also pleased about helping out. They come every Wednesday to go through new donations and organize everything else.
Ms. Maldonado and the parents want to ensure that the Colonist Closet is a safe and a judge-free zone. One of the parents, Maria Hernandez, said, “Nobody is going to offend them, nobody is going to judge them, and nobody is going to criticize them.” She encourages students to come and get what they need or just to look around.
AHS Parent organizing Colonist Closet
Ms. Maldonado wants everyone to be able to take advantage of the resources, so if a student is too embarrassed, she will take the Colonist Closet to them. The Colonist Closet is open during both lunches every other Friday. It is located in room 26, facing the music building. Donations of clothes, hygiene products, canned foods, new undergarments, and makeup are being accepted.
For more information contact Ms. Maldonado at [email protected]
Zulette Orduna • Sep 20, 2019 at 2:26 pm
I really enjoyed the topic of this article, just knowing of another way the school is providing for us students is so heartwarming. Also of Ms. Maldonado and many of the other mother´s kind deeds is amazing to hear about because of the involvement that we are having with our community and just the thought of Anaheim High School´s parents looking out for others in need. Although the article´s topic was outstanding, I would really like a more descriptive insight on how the this whole idea started. But other than that you truly did an amazing job and keep up the good work! 😀
Antonio Gutierrez • Sep 20, 2019 at 2:20 pm
I love the coverage on the colonist closet since it is a great resource for everyone. I even got a nice pair of pants from there that I love. If I were to give my 2 cents I say that with the pictures maybe fix the exposure and a recheck for shadows and how it affects the overall photo. 🙂
James Jimenez • Sep 20, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I like how the colonist closet is for everyone and that nobody is going to judge you for getting clothes from there. I like how the school provides for students and family’s who need this items because we don’t know what they are going through.
Mr. Saldivar • Sep 18, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Great job with this story, Evelyn! What a great resource we have on campus and now with this article more of our students will know about it.
Thank you for covering this story!
Best,
Mr. Saldivar