BARTOW – The clothing boutique at Bartow Middle School is no secret. Shopping, however, is quite discreet.
Samantha Swafford remains incredulous that so many of her students have no warm outerwear to protect them in frigid weather; or come to school with ill-fitting, worn shoes. A good many just don’t have the means to purchase uniforms, she said, and many don’t bathe for days on end.
A sixth-grade teacher at Bartow Middle, Swafford decided during the summer to fashion a special, clandestine shopping experience for children in need, especially those who are homeless. She collected money, clothing and supplies from friends, fellow teachers and contacts in the business community.
The service itself is a reflection of growth in homelessness among public school students in Polk County, which has seen numbers increase by as much as 32 percent from the same time last year. That statistic is attributed primarily to hurricanes that ravaged Florida, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands.
School District officials have identified 2,718 students already this school year who are considered homeless, a population that includes children who are doubled up in homes with one or more families because of financial hardship. The federal definition of homelessness also pertains to children residing in substandard mobile homes and trailer parks, or living in motels and shelters.
Homelessness is a concern because it can negatively impact a child’s success in school, which can carry over into adulthood and limit career options, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
According to Seattle University’s Project on Family Homelessness, researchers studying homelessness found that preschoolers had much poorer vocabularies than peers in stable homes, and the stress of being homeless also hurts learning and memory.
Homeless youth are especially at risk for teen pregnancy, according to the National Association for Education of Homeless Children and Youth, which cites research that indicates as many as 20 percent of homeless youth become pregnant.
In Polk, public school students identified as being homeless have access to a variety of services to help boost academic achievement. The “boutique” at Bartow Middle is one teacher’s contribution to the cause.
The boutique is secreted in an area off limits to the general student population. Shoppers are afforded the luxury of selecting styles that best suit them, free from peers with prying eyes.
Some of the merchandise is new, some gently used.
Options are plentiful: Rows of school uniforms, mainly black or khaki-colored shorts and slacks, and T-shirts and polos color-matched to grade level; orange for grade six, navy blue for grade seven, royal blue for grade eight.
More than a simple clothes closet, the boutique is stocked with shoes, backpacks and personal hygiene products like acne cleansers, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel.
Having access to clothes, shoes and other supplies affords some students a sense of normalcy, Swafford said. “They’re more confident going to class, and they’re learning more. They’re invested. Confidence is key.”
Bartow Middle Principal Chris Roberts said he’s seen a reduction in discipline problems since the boutique was installed. “They know you care about them,” he said, and that engenders a more trusting relationship.
During the 2016-17 school year 3,393 Polk students were homeless or at risk of being homeless. That was down from 3,691 students the year before. But this year the number of children deemed homeless is on track to exceed last year’s number, a situation exacerbated by an influx of children from Puerto Rico.
The district has absorbed as many as 727 students since Puerto Rico was ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria, and Irma contributed additional numbers of homeless children who already were living in Polk. Most of the Puerto Rican children are classified homeless because they’re living with relatives or in substandard housing, district officials said.
“We’ll definitely be ahead of last year’s numbers (of homeless students by year’s end),” said Dee Dee Wright, the School District’s homeless liaison who oversees the HEARTH Project, which helps children acquire services to ensure academic success. That includes clothing and uniforms, shoes, tutoring, bus transportation, school supplies, physical examinations and immunizations and more. HEARTH stands for homeless education advocates restoring the hope.
Assistance extends from food gift cards to gasoline vouchers. Seven students received crockpots to help family meal preparation be more convenient.
The HEARTH project depends on donations, Wright said. “It’s such a huge need.”
Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528.