Chapa Middle School houses what it calls its Neighbors Helping Neighbors room, a collection of donated clothes and other household essentials that are free for the taking for community members in need. Chapa Language Arts teacher Jöel Johnson, above, is the on-campus, go-to person for accessing or donating to the community help room. (photo by Jim Cullen)
By Jim Cullen
Local schools are all about helping their students and, in some situations, their families, whether it’s in the form of counseling, advice or direction to services. Chapa Middle School, like its 21 counterpart campuses across Hays CISD, does the same thing, but has for the past several months been taking the commitment to help up a notch. The school’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, housed in a vacant classroom portable building, offers – at no cost to recipients – a wide range of clothing and goods.
Chapa language arts teacher Jöel Johnson has been spearheading the project since mid-way through the past school year. The Cougars’ current Teacher of the Year gives blocks of time to help take in donated goods and to open the doors to those in need of something offered on the Neighbors Helping Neighbors shelves.
Johnson and Chapa Principal Lisa Walls describe the facility as “a community store where all items are free,” with items donated from various sources ranging from teachers to churches and a number of community members. Johnson says the store is intended “to strengthen the bond between schools and the community while providing resources to those who need them.”
She said last year’s showing was very successful, noting the fact that Neighbors Helping Neighbors was able to provide for many families. Those receiving help were not just those directly associated with Chapa. Johnson estimates that as many as 300 families have taken advantage of the program so far, some of them repeat visitors.
“One of the best parts was seeing the ‘revolving door’ effect,” Johnson said. She explains by recalling “families would come and get items that they needed and drop off some that they were willing to donate. Though this is not a requirement, it really illuminated the Neighbors Helping Neighbors concept.”
Asked about partnerships, not surprisingly both Johnson and Walls point to the campus Communities in Schools (CIS) office, headed by Aileen Hays. “The relationships and trust they are able to build with our families is priceless,” Johnson said.
There are many items of clothing and shoes available, but other household items include toys, small appliances, furniture and home décor. Clothing donors are asked only that articles “that still have some wear left in them” be brought in, “gently used and no holes” being the operative requirement.
To access Chapa’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors, community members may contact Johnson at [email protected], Hays at [email protected], or Walls at [email protected] or call the campus at 268-8500. Hopes are for the facility to be open to the public on a regular basis (Johnson is hoping for every other week), but with prior notice of need, the room can be opened on request. All donors or customers are responsible for their own pickup or delivery arrangements.
When all is said and done, the community’s multiple donors and other contributing partners like the Journey Church congregation, Chapa Middle School, its CIS staffers and committed faculty continue to build on an encouraging start at Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Jöel Johnson and her assistants welcome additional assistance.
