Magee Middle School to host clothing giveaway

John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake will host a clothing giveaway during parent-teacher conferences Thursday.

Deborah Arthurs, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Magee, said the Believe It Or Not I Care student group, also known as BIONIC, is in charge of turning the school cafeteria essentially into a clothing store. Arthurs facilitates BIONIC for the children in grades six through eight.

Arthurs said anyone with a need is eligible to pick up free clothing from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the middle school, 500 N. Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake. She said the first clothing giveaway occurred during the school conference day in October, when more than 1,000 items were distributed.

Lots of preparation and monitoring are required for the temporary clothing store. Students keep an eye on the clothes, and teachers supervise the overall process.

“Most of our items come from the staff and students and their families and friends from John T. Magee Middle School,” Arthurs said. “It is definitely a word-of-mouth, grass-roots type of endeavor.”

Available sizes are expected to range from elementary school ages to adult. Hundreds of items will be available, Arthurs said. Students have been participating in a homeroom challenge at the school to encourage their peers to gather gently used clothes for the effort.

It’s hoped the cafeteria will be transformed into a free clothing shop every October and March, Arthurs said. She said the first effort from October 2012 was deemed a success, which is why it’ll be held again Thursday.