Peck Middle School celebrated the opening of a new Catie’s Closet with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, December 17.
Tucked into a corner of a much larger storage area in the B wing of the first floor, the new Catie’s Closet at Peck School is outfitted with neatly organized racks of clothing and bins of toiletries that allow students to discreetly select items they need.
For the past 15 years, Catie’s Closet has been partnering with schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to provide safe, welcoming spaces where students can shop for free for items they need, helping to build their confidence and providing encouragement to stay in school. In all, there are Catie’s Closet locations in more than 140 schools across 11 school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with distribution centers in East Longmeadow, Boston, and the Merrimack Valley.
Lawrence Elementary School has provided a Catie’s Closet for its students since 2021—and this second Holyoke location at Peck School is just another step in the journey.
“We have seen how valuable Catie’s Closet has been for our Lawrence students and their families,” said Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. “We very much appreciate being able to open a new Catie’s Closet for our Peck Middle School students. We know that having access to clothing and other basic necessities helps our students feel more confident and better prepared for school every day.”
