A clothing collection has been compiled for students to use as needed, with organizer and education assistant Stacy Szymik hoping it grows to serve more.

By Jonathan Mapilisan | Artist

Students needing a warm coat, a new size of pants or even a prom dress could check out “My Best Friend’s Closet.”

What began as a shabby storage closet between rooms 212 and 214 in the Main Building, “My Best Friend’s Closet” has evolved into an organized arrangement of a variety of apparel. Although the closet has been around for quite some time, its presence still remains much unknown. Educational assistant Stacy Szymik, who envisioned the concept, hopes to change this by encouraging students to use the closet.

“I’d like to get this to the point where kids are into using it and think that it’s cool,” Szymik said. “I want to really promote this idea of being proud of reusing clothes.”

Szymik, who named the space “My Best Friend’s Closet” in order to convey a friendly experience, has a goal to expand the closet, and to eventually create it into a shop that students could use on a regular basis. North Bend High School has an used apparel shop, and Szymik hopes to mirror its success with this project.

“If I can show that there’s interest, I may be able to move the closet to a larger room,” Szymik said. “I would like to expand and make this more user-friendly and exciting. I’d love to have a room just like our apparel store where there’s music and kids working and a good place for kids to come hang out and trade clothes.”

Although the closet has a multitude of items in a variety of sizes, such as prom dresses and golf shirts, most of the donations have been from faculty members at Marshfield. Students are encouraged to take part in the recycling process by bringing in their unwanted clothing. Students may donate by contacting Syzmik in room 214, but are also able to donate by leaving items at the Main Office. Over time, Syzmik hopes to make “My Best Friend’s Closet” into a larger part of Marshfield’s student body.

“We can do great things with this once it gets off the ground,” Syzmik said. “I’m talking fashion shows at assemblies and other fun stuff like that. This can be a great way for kids to take part in and embrace the ultimate form of recycling.”