Boys & Girls Clubs, prosecutor announce new program

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County and the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office are partnering together to launch a new program for Lorain County children who go hungry, lack cold weather clothing or do not have access to personal hygiene supplies.

Those children soon will have a place to turn to in the Personal Care Closet, according to a news release.

The Personal Care Closet is a free resource for children in need.

School counselors, teachers, administrators or Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County staff members will recommend youngsters to the program, the release said.

Use of the Personal Care Closet will be confidential and anonymous.

The Boys & Girls Clubs and the Prosecutor’s Office have successfully enlisted the support of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, Meijer, Avon Commons Old Navy and other local organizations, according to the release.

The groups are seeking additional providers for the Personal Care Closet and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County also is accepting monetary donations that can be earmarked for the new program.

“By providing children with basic necessities that are often taken for granted, our hope is that they can better focus on their education,” said Mike Conibear, executive director of the Boys & Girls of Lorain County.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said students’ basic needs must be met before they can learn.

“We’re excited to be able to help the students in our community excel in school,” Will said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs is reaching out to Lorain County school districts to gauge interest in participating in the new program.