Rolling Meadows High opens Comfort Closet to help teens in need

Rolling Meadows High School is now the second recipient of inventory to create a closet filled with necessary hygiene and comfort products allowing teens to "shop" with dignity.

People Helping People-Palatine, a local charity created to help those in the community in need, provides Comfort Closets in local high schools, beginning with the launch of Palatine High School's North Academy in October 2022.

The Comfort Closet's goal is to alleviate the often-overlooked expense of necessary hygiene and comfort items for teens who may not have access to items in the home, or are unwilling to take from an already stretched budget within their families.

It was noticed that student-driven assistance was accepted more readily than when staff would reach out directly to the families at home. It was also noted that the closet and its inventory provided a sense of security to school staff and social workers, as they are able to provide immediate assistance to those in need.

In addition, PHP-Palatine was able to provide 300 hygiene kits, including dental care items, shampoo, soap, deodorant and feminine care products, to schools across Community Consolidated School District 15.

According to the district's website, 38.1% of students are considered low-income students, while 1.6% of students are homeless or do not have adequate housing.

Rolling Meadows High School was the second recipient of a Comfort Closet from People Helping People, with the an initial startup delivery in February. Currently, Academy North houses a Comfort Closet in their facility that supplies items to students in need at Palatine High School and other surrounding school facilities.

Items are donated directly from members of the community via drives, with the help of local businesses and community organizations hosting drop-off points for collection.