The Nest receives donations from the community

The Nest is a free clothing "store" started by students for students in 2019 via the Falcon Project. Today, it continues to be a student-run, student-benefitting initiative.

It recently got many donations from the community. The United Methodist Church donated 60 backpacks, pens, highlighters, feminine products, folders and more. Pat Johnson donated one bag and a box of scrunchies. The Mayo Clinic Health System donated various school supplies collected through the Mayo Clinic (estimated value of approximately $500). The Salvation Army donated school supplies and hygiene products. Morgan Klumb donated feminine hygiene products.

Community School Coordinator Gabbie Carlander said she and the students who take advantage of the Nest are so grateful to those who donated.

"We're always definitely excited. I know they are excited to be able to donate and make a donation to us to help our students. I know that I am always so touched when these organizations come to us and say they want to donate to our cause, the school, and the students. I know that, at community education, we're always so grateful, and it's so great to see our community come together and help support the students that live here," said Carlander.

Carlander said the Nest is a "take what you need, leave what you don't" place for students. It is located in the Welcome Center of the high school and allows students to grab items they might not have access to outside of school.

"I love that I can be the person that is like, 'This is for you.' 'It's not from, from me, it's from our community.' Seeing them be like, 'What, it's free?' and then explaining to them that everything is donated. It's really awesome," said Carlander. "I also love seeing students come in and volunteer for us. I have students who come in every Monday and Wednesday and volunteer. They help me restock everything. They help me make sure it's clean. It's great to see that the students are also helping run it."

Junior Falhado Aden said she takes advantage of the Nest, because it's positive and helps people in need.

"It has a variety of stuff you can choose from. I think it's good that people are donating to the Nest; it helps people out. I go to the Nest to find some clothes I would like," said Aden. "People should take advantage of it because they may never get this opportunity again, so they should take what they can right now and stuff they want for later on."

Carlander said she encourages students to take advantage of the Nest. She said that even if a student is unsure about it, to come down to the Welcome Center and see what it is all about.

"I'm happy to help. I have a no-questions-asked policy, so students don't need to tell me what they're grabbing. They have to scan a QR code, which lets me know if I need to restock things," said Carlander. "I don't need to know any details about what they're grabbing or what they need. Nobody else in here needs to know. So hopefully, it makes it less scary to come in."

When students want to check out an item, all they have to do is scan the QR code. They are in a few spots in the Welcome Center, and Carlander even has one on her desk.

"It asks what the student grabbed and how many of the items. It does ask for the student's school email, but their email is just a bunch of numbers. It says on there, 'Please enter an item and quantity you took of each,' then it's in Spanish and Somali, and they type in, and that's it," said Carlander. "I just keep track so I know if there are things that we need, and if we are seeing a higher percentage of students who need toothbrushes, then I know that I can ask somebody in the community for toothbrushes."

While the Nest at the high school is the main location, there are other Nests in the middle school and Roosevelt, Lincoln and Jefferson elementaries.

"I have a lot of stuff in storage right now that I help restock, not only my Nest but also any of the other sites that are low on anything. We all kind of work together," said Carlander. "We had a family recently who needed something at the ALC. So we can also help get stuff over to the ALC for them. And the ALC is new, so they will also have a Nest startup there."

Carlander said the Nest at the high school could always use shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other hygiene products.

"Water bottles are a big one. Students always come in here asking, 'Do you have water bottles?' Deodorant is another big one. Body Wash, as well as backpacks and socks, go really quickly," said Carlander.

WHERE TO DONATE

People can donate by heading to one of the community school locations and dropping off the items there.