Ridley School District gives newlifetoold school uniforms
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » Outgrown school uniforms multiplying like rabbits in closets and dresser drawers? Well the soon to open RSD Uniform Closet may be the answer to parents who don’t want to just through the uniforms away, or donate them to thrift stores.
At its July board meeting, the Ridley School Board approved the establishment of the uniform closet. Now nolonger-needed school uniforms worn by Ridley students in grades kindergarten through eighth grades can be donated to the RSD Closet, where they will be freshly laundered and sized and ready for any Ridley family in need. And the RSD Closet will serve a dual purpose by providing training for students in the Ridley Employment Adult Program, which will be responsible for managing the inventory.
“We will be collecting anything that says ‘Ridley’ on it that fits in with the uniforms for children in kindergarten through middle school,” said Kelli Mullany, director of pupil services for the school district. “We have many needy families in the district. No one should have to stay home from school because they don’t have uniforms to wear, or school supplies.” Mullany said she has been at yard sales and noticed people were selling Ridley uniforms. She said her thoughts turned to last Christmas when 168 Ridley families were given a helping hand. The school uniform store will include school supplies for children in need. Mullany said shelving and racks to be used in the store were purchased at 75 percent off from Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies R Us stores that have gone out of business. The store will be in the Ridley School District Services Center on Morton Avenue, next door to Ridley High School. Working with Mullany on the project are school social workers Megan Warwick and Erin Cianciarielo.
The high school students with developmental disabilities who are in the life skills program at Mary’s House in Eddystone, operated by the school district to teach these students life skills needed for them to function in the community, will be in charge of laundering the uniform donations, according to Mullany. Any monetary donations that are received at the closet will be used to purchase sizes that may be needed.
The uniform policy for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade calls for khaki or black pants, shorts or skorts, and hunter green or white polo-type shirts with colors, either long or short sleeves, dress shoes or athletic shoes. The uniform policy does not apply to high school students, but there is a dress code.