In April, 2017, a Letter of Understanding between NCJW and Liberty Park Elementary was signed and a Kids Community Closet was opened. This closet was funded by a grant from the BallenIsles Charities Foundation and is always fully stocked with new clothing thanks to their continuing generosity. Mr. Joseph Schneider, the principal of Liberty Park, guides the school community to fulfill their mission to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system. They work together to foster joy in learning and create a positive vision for each child’s future. Each student’s cultural heritage is valued, and their physical, emotional, academic, and social needs are met.  

Liberty Park has a population of 851 students, 92% of whom are on Free/Reduced lunch. The school has a diverse population with a significant majority of students being Hispanic and 469 students who speak multiple languages. Ms. Darline Felix, who does an outstanding job of managing the Kids Community Closet, says “The KCC has been a blessing to our school since 2017. Because of this closet, we have provided school uniforms, underwear, socks, and shoes to many of our needy families. We have students that come to school with soiled clothes and we can change them immediately without embarrassment.” Our NCJW volunteers Shelley Cohn and Leah Kuperman visit Liberty Park several times a year to take inventory of the clothing.