The third part of a unique partnership between the Way Christian Youth Center and the Trigg County Family Resource and Youth Services Center became official Tuesday when the ribbon was cut at The Barn Teen Clothing Closet on Lafayette Street.
The Barn offers students the opportunity to bring up to five items of clothes and swap them for five different items at no charge. The Barn is open to all Trigg County High School and Middle School students.
The Way Christian Youth Center purchased land and two old buildings — one of which was a barn — adjacent to its property from the school system in January 2021 for $50,000.
Family Resource and Youth Services Coordinator Laura Shelton said a conversation with Carl Heckmann of The way soon followed.
click to download audioShelton said the clothing barn fits a need for the youth services center that works to remove barriers to a student’s learning.
click to download audioThe Barn is run by students who, with adult supervision, host clothing drives, develop marketing plans, and make social media posts to advertise to their peers.
Shelton said two high school students — Riley Miller and Lucy Litchfield — have been instrumental in helping get the doors to the Barn open.
click to download audioShelton also read a long list of people, groups, and businesses that helped with the renovation of the former ag department barn behind the high school. The Way board member Marc Frye was one of the Trigg County ag students who remembered the barn in its previous life.
click to download audioThe school received a $100,000 grant through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund that came about from federal COVID relief funds.
Shelton said The Barn has only been open for a couple of weeks but it’s already making a difference.
click to download audioThe other areas of the partnership include Wildcats at the Way, a program that offers a variety of classes with adult mentorships that help offset the impact of the coronavirus on students.
As part of the ribbon cutting, Cadiz Mayor Todd King presented The Barn with a key to the city.
