Winter coat too small? Boots don’t fit? Or maybe the backpack your child started school with in September has been through the ringer this year, and needs to be replaced? A visit to the Spy Ponders Threads closet may be in order.
Created around the idea that students can better focus on learning if they have the supplies they need, Spy Ponders Threads provides Arlington families with access to free clothing, outerwear, shoes, backpacks, water bottles, toiletries and other essentials. This year, thanks to a $20,000 Development & Expansion grant from Arlington Education Foundation, Spy Ponders Threads has expanded districtwide to include a centralized closet at the APS Welcome & Resource Center at Arlington High School, along with three additional satellite closets at Ottoson Middle School, Gibbs and Thompson Elementary School.
Donated coats from Spy Ponder Threads ready for the colder months
Families, students and APS staff are all eligible to shop the Spy Ponders Threads closets. Available items include black pants for school concert performances, athletic wear for gym classes, menstrual supplies and dress shirts and slacks for job interviews. Last fall alone, Spy Ponders Threads distributed more than 350 bags of clothing, 750 coats, 92 pairs of shoes, 46 bags of school supplies and over 175 bags of toiletries to more than 700 visitors.
“This is an initiative that is supporting our community,” says Rachel Oliveri, Sustainability Project Manager for APS. “We’re so grateful to the Arlington Education Foundation for supporting us.”
Spy Ponders Threads also provides families with a way to help each other and give back to their community. Families are encouraged to donate gently used and new clothing, coats, shoes and other items in good condition. APS maintains an active donation list on its website. A team of volunteers sorts the donations and readies them for distribution. The Spy Ponds Threads closet at the APS Welcome & Resource Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for visitors to stop by.
