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Mama Mac\u2019s Closet is an institution within an institution.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s been twenty years since school safety specialist Kimberly \u201cMama Mac\u201d McLaughlin opened the closet in a small classroom at South Division, accepting donated coats from our staff, families, and neighbors. Word spread quickly, as did community generosity. Donors with no connection to the school began dropping off personal hygiene items, children\u2019s clothing, and accessories. <\/p>\n
Mama Mac, who called herself a \u201cteacher of the hallways,\u201d is now retired. Her vision, values, and name remain a positive presence here. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just want everyone to know how important it is to help the students and families, not just from South Division but the surrounding community,\u201d McLaughlin says. \u201cThe response has been outstanding and I couldn\u2019t have started this without everyone\u2019s help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The closet\u2019s collection has expanded over the years to provide South Division families and local shelters with gently used, high quality clothing and personal care items. The closet\u2019s mission has expanded along with its footprint. Mama Mac\u2019s Closet is a first job for some special education students who unload, launder, and stock inventory to earn credit toward graduation and develop job readiness skills. Parent volunteers help as needed.<\/p>\n
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Mama Mac\u2019s Closet is an institution within an institution.It\u2019s been twenty years since school safety specialist Kimberly \u201cMama Mac\u201d McLaughlin opened the closet in a small classroom at South Division, accepting donated coats from our staff, families, and neighbors. Word spread quickly, as did community generosity. Donors with no connection to the school began dropping […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":7,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[metaslider id=4336]\r\n
Mama Mac's closet was started 10 years ago to help students and families at South Division. Mama Mac began collecting coats from parents, staff, and the community. This led to other donations including clothing for children and adults and hygiene products. Word has spread around the South side about her Closet and families are grateful and appreciative. Besides her helping South Division students and families, donations to the closet also have benefited people at many shelters. Mama Mac says \"I just want everyone to know how important it is to help the students and families, not just from South Division but the surrounding community,\" she said. \"The response has been outstanding and I couldn't do it without everyone's help.\"<\/p>\r\n
I have been a security guard for 26 years. I really love my job, because I get to help the students and their families. I have been at South Division High School for 22 years. This year I have 8 former South students who work here with me. I also have some freshmen parents helping that also went here to South Division High School. I want students to learn and have a good day at school. I have been hungry and didn\u2019t always have the newest clothes. So I know what that is like. Now as an adult, it is time to give back, because I have the opportunity to help my kids and it feels great! When my kids are having a good day, I have a good day! I will continue to be a teacher of the hallways for many years. Love you all-Momma Mac.\u201d<\/blockquote>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1832","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1832\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/south\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}