Cleaning out your closets this spring?
Greensburg Salem is collecting gently used dress clothes for eighth grade students in need of semi-formal attire for the middle school graduation dinner and dance.
The dance was launched by then-assistant principal Joseph Nava in the 1970s to celebrate students’ transition from middle to high school. The annual tradition was put on pause in the late 1980s before being brought back in 2014 by eighth grade English teacher Barb Garofola.
“I just remember being in junior high and loving this dance,” said Garofola, a Greensburg Salem alumnus. “I wanted the kids to have something special as a right of passage to go to high school.”
The middle school’s Caring Clawset is accepting donations of semi-formal attire for students who don’t have access to dress clothes.
Homecoming-style dresses, khakis, dress pants, button down shirts, dress shoes and ties are among the items that will be accepted. Garofola said dresses in sizes XS to 3X and khakis or dress pants of any junior or regular size are most helpful to students.
Monetary donations to help a student buy dress clothes will also be accepted.
“The problem is, we’re at an all-time high poverty rating here at Greensburg Salem,” Garofola said. “There’s so many financial needs among our student body.”
More than half of the district’s students are considered economically disadvantaged, spokesperson Kayla Tamer said.
“It’s so expensive to buy dress clothes these days,” Garofola said, “and especially the boys. They grow out of things so quickly. You hate to spend money on something they’re going to grow out of so quickly.”
Donations can be delivered to the middle school main office between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. this month. The eighth grade dinner and dance will be held May 30.