The Foundation hopes to boost confidence and attendance rates
by providing basic necessities for low-income students
Andover, MA (March 2, 2023) – The ALKU Foundation, part of Andover-based staffing firm, ALKU, supports youth-serving programs that promote equity and social progress to build future leaders, is partnering with Catie’s Closet to support student’s everyday needs. In their new $20,000 commitment to Catie’s Closet, The Foundation will help low-income students at Francis M. Leahy Elementary School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, building on the company’s culture of giving back.
“The ALKU Foundation is thrilled to partner with Catie’s Closet to help students at Francis M. Leahy School,” said ALKU Foundation’s Executive Director, Vanessa Plant. “Catie’s Closet meets the basic and immediate physical needs of our young people to help them feel good about themselves, engage in learning, and make a positive difference in the world around them. The ALKU Foundation believes that every young person should have access to basic necessities. Catie’s Closet is bridging that gap to allow students to focus on their education to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
Catie’s Closet, an ALKU Foundation grant recipient, transforms unused areas inside schools into safe, welcoming spaces where students in grades pre-school through 12th can discreetly shop, free of charge, for clothing, toiletries, and other necessities. In 2022, the ALKU Foundation awarded Catie’s Closet with a $25,000 grant to build a closet for students in need. This year, The ALKU Foundation and ALKU’s corporate giving team are partnering up as a “Be Me” sponsor for Catie’s Closet, donating a combined $20,000 to help support the needs of students. The Foundation is also proud to sponsor Emergency Packs for Catie’s Closet, a service designed to support the clothing and toiletry needs of children in transition supported by social service agencies, child and family services, hospitals, community health centers, foster care agencies, and shelters.
“Our partnership with the ALKU Foundation has allowed us to open new doors of opportunity to hundreds of students in need,” said Mickey Cockrell, CEO and Co-founder of Catie’s Closet. “We work to provide children in crisis with free access to basic necessities right inside their school which in turn promotes healthy, trusting relationships in their lives. There is a great demand for our services as students’ needs continue to increase. With ALKU’s support, we are able to expand our reach and help more children who turn to Catie’s Closet for assistance.”
About ALKU
ALKU starts with the people and prides itself on fostering long-lasting relationships and doing the basics exceptionally well. They are relentless in finding a solution, passionate about helping others, and dedicated to going the extra mile to provide a quality experience. They have built their company on the principle that investing in their people is critical and will always continue to come first. They are committed to promoting ALKU’s model, prioritizing paying it forward and building meaningful partnerships while empowering others and creating a brighter future.
About Catie’s Closet
Established in 2010, Catie’s Closet provides students experiencing poverty, homelessness, and other crises with free access to clothing, toiletries and basic necessities by building free stores inside their schools. Serving 80,000 students, Catie’s Closet is offered in 120 schools across 11 school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire with distribution centers in Dracut and Boston, Massachusetts. The organization also supports children who are displaced via social service partnerships.
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Media Contact:
Brittney Figueira
(978) 587-1616