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Knox County Schools expands clothing and resource center, will operate program without a Dream Center MOU
Summary
Knox County Schools presented plans to expand a district‑run clothing and resource center with satellite distribution to schools and community partners; the Knoxville Dream Center will continue informal support but no formal MOU will be executed.
Knox County Schools staff told the Board of Education on May 5 that a district‑operated Clothing and Resource Center has grown rapidly since opening and the district plans to expand services via school‑based satellite sites and community drop‑off locations.
The program, located in the Cedar Bluff preschool building, has served 263 students since February and has supported needs across 74 schools, district staff said. District staff said the Knoxville Dream Center will continue as a community partner providing donated household items and other assistance but that the clothing program will be managed by Knox County Schools; no memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dream Center is needed for the board item being considered.
How it will work: social workers will make online referrals and schools can receive standard orders for students. The standard distribution described by staff includes underwear, socks and up to five school outfits per student per semester; staff said emergency requests can be filled outside the standard order when needs arise. Schools may pick up donated items, or staff can send clothing to campuses via school mail.
Staff described volunteer and student‑integration opportunities: the district is piloting student work and intern roles with Project SEARCH and engaging National Honor Society volunteers and the district’s 865 academies for career pathway connections. Staff also said the program accepts donations weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and is building satellite drop‑off sites; ASO Apparel recently donated about 14,000 sweatshirts that staff said are being distributed to schools.
Board members applauded the program’s rapid expansion and asked about donation procedures, volunteer sign‑up and coordination with school nurses and social workers. Staff said they are expanding communication to schools and will provide contact points and a new email address if the board approves district operation of the program.
The presentation also noted the district washes all donated clothing before distribution and that staff have worked with community partners (Knoxville Dream Center, Helping Mamas, NTYCE and others) to obtain household items, shoes, school supplies and clothing appropriate to students’ preferences. Staff said they plan to pilot prom and homecoming clothing services and partner with cosmetology programs and volunteer stylists in coming years.
“The thing that I am most excited about is our student integration,” staff said, describing Project SEARCH interns and student volunteer engagement as opportunities to build workplace skills while supporting peers.
The board will consider a consent‑agenda item related to the clothing center later in the regular meeting; district staff said the item was revised to remove a planned MOU because the Dream Center will provide support informally rather than under a formal agreement.
