HOPE Committee

 

The mission of the Glens Falls City Schools HOPE Committee is to build and support trusting relationships with district families . . . compassionately fulfill immediate needs of students for food and clothing . . .  and to foster connections with community resources. 

We fulfill this mission by welcoming Glens Falls school community members into our HOPE Boutique once a month, where they can “shop” for free clothing items, personal care products, shoes, and even special occasion items during the holidays. These items are donated by — and accessible to — all members of the school community as we work together to break down barriers holding us back from our fullest educational experience.

• The HOPE Committee is comprised of teachers,  teaching assistants, related service providers, and building administrators.  We meet once per month as a committee to plan and many committee members work the boutiques on Saturday mornings once per month.  
• Mrs. Brown and the supported employment students put in many hours during the school week preparing the boutique by sorting and hanging clothes.  
• Special efforts include a Back to School Boutique, Holiday Shopping Boutique, and a Graduation Boutique for any graduating Senior needing dress attire as required by the graduation dress code.
• The Boutique is accessible to teachers and counselors during the school week for any student in the Elementary School,  Middle School or High School if they are in need of clean clothes, gym clothes, award ceremony attire, field trip clothing, sports attire, warmer outerwear as winter approaches, or dry clothing after walking to school in the rain, or even as a reward for a great week in school!
• Committee members volunteer for other organizations such as the Community Exchange Foundation which puts on the local Kids Consignment Sale twice per year. 
• The committee collaborates with other organizations to assist local girls in need of prom dresses.  
• Lia Automotive Group, Stewart’s Holiday Match, and First Presbyterian Church have all generously donated items and toiletries to the Boutique.

From its humble beginnings about a decade ago, the committee has expanded to serve more than 100 families per month.  The Hope Committee has held fundraisers, toiletry drives, clothing drives, a sock drive, and a hat and glove drive to supply the Boutique.