FILLING THE CLOSET

Women’s club collecting for youth in need

“They say that it takes a community to raise a child, but in this case, it takes a community to raise a lot of children. And it’s possible with our help.” — June L. Zeiner, Torrington Women’s Club’s chairman of education

TORRINGTON » The Torrington Women’s Club is collecting donations for young city residents in need, as they seek to aid students at Torrington High School with unstable living situations.

The group set up a table at the meet-and-greet held by the Torrington schools Thursday to receive supplies from the community. According to the club’s

Chairman of Education June L. Zeiner, members will continue to collect items for the closet.

There are approximately 107 students at Torrington High School who are homeless or without stable housing, Zeiner said.

The group is collecting bicycles in good condition, umbrellas, backpacks, gym bags, clothing, detergent, non-perishable foods, gift cards for haircuts,

and personal items, Zeiner said.

“We want these kids to graduate from high school. We want them to become

upright citizens, make something of themselves. And it’s possible with our help,” said Zeiner.

The club also collects items for The Gathering Place, Zeiner said, and works to help needy people in Torrington. Members were also collecting

goods for Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) Thursday afternoon.

Zeiner said that the group would continue to help the young people in Torrington into the future, as the need for clothing, food and haircuts will continue.

“No child under the age of 16 should not have a home to go to, or parents to take care of them,” said Zeiner. “They say that it takes a community to raise a child, but in this case, it takes a community to raise a lot of children.”

Those who would like to

make a donation, Zeiner said, can call her at 860489-7258.

The Care Closet, a collection place to help students in need access basic needs, opened at Torrington High School during the last school year.

A survey administered by EdAdvance and THS administrators “revealed, based on self-reports, that more than 100 students at THS either were unstably housed themselves or knew of another student who was,” according to a past story.

BEN LAMBERT — HEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA The Torrington Women’s Club, seen at Thursday’s meet-and-greet held by the city schools, is collecting donations for homeless and underserved high school students.