Uniform exchange days help ECCSS students in need
The Elk County Catholic School System has specific dress code requirements for students in all grade levels at each of its schools. In order to help ensure that students have access to the uniform items they need, the school system hosts uniform exchange days and also collects gently-used uniforms year round to provide to those in need free of charge.
The uniform exchange day for St. Marys Catholic Elementary School, St. Marys Catholic Middle School, and Elk County Catholic High School was held on Thursday in the St. Marys Catholic Elementary School cafeteria. Terri Lanzel, who was in charge of the event, indicated that it was well attended.
Both a morning and evening session were offered in an effort to accommodate individuals' schedules.
“We've been very busy,” Lanzel said during the evening session on Thursday.
Lanzel noted that while the event is called an exchange, those in need do not have to bring an item in order to be able to take one.
Lanzel also encouraged anyone who was unable to attend but has a child in need of something for their uniform to contact the school office at 814-8344169.
“They can contact the school office, and they will either contact me, or they will actually bring them in. We store everything, and then they can just come and look through it,” Lanzel said.
Copies of the dress codes for the 2022-2023 school year were also available for all three schools, and individuals had the option to order new uniforms if they chose.
Lanzel explained that having individuals donate items that no longer fit or are needed is a big help to other families within the school system. Members of the recently-graduated senior class at Elk County Catholic High School were also given a dress down day if they donated their uniforms at the end of the school year, Lanzel added.
Uniform donations are accepted year round and can be brought to the St. Marys Catholic Elementary School office.
“We take the elementary school, middle school, and high school stuff here,” Lanzel said.
“We're happy to have it. All they have to do is drop it off and we'll sort it. If they need a bigger size, they can come back and we can help them find it.”
A uniform exchange for St. Leo School in Ridgway is being held Sunday from 4-6 p.m. in the St. Leo Church social hall.
According to a post on the Elk County Catholic School System's Facebook page, anyone with uniform items to drop off for the St. Leo exchange day is asked to place them in the blue bin located at the school anytime prior to the event or bring the items with them on Sunday.
Additional information can be found on the Elk County Catholic School System's website, eccss.org, and Facebook page.