Community helping JMCSS families in uniform drive

As the start of the school year approaches, so does the need for parents to get back-to-school shopping done.

But as prices for most everything has gone up the last couple of years, more families are needing help in getting that shopping completed.

Jackson-Madison County Schools is doing their part to help families as they had their uniform drive last week with a big kickoff event at the JMCSS Central Offices Monday morning.

District employees were grilling hot dogs with free chips and drinks included. Radio stations were doing live remotes to promote the drive. And Rhonda Heard, the director of family and community engagement for JMCSS, was on hand to take any donations that were brought.

Even before inflation began to spike in the wake of the pandemic, Heard said about 300 families were utilizing the uniform drive, and that number has risen in recent years.

Black, khaki and navy blue pants and skirts are usable by every student. Polo shirts are standard uniform tops with white and black being part of every school’s uniform and typically the school’s main color being a third option.

“Students in younger grades all the way up to high school are needed, and it’s typically needed more in younger grades,” Heard said. “But we’ve seen an increase in our need for larger sizes for older students.”

Anyone wanting to donate clothes can do so by dropping new or gently used clothes off at the Central Office (310 North Parkway), Outback Steakhouse (194 Stonebrook Place) and Elite Dental (47 North Star Drive). Dropping off a full outfit at Outback will be good for a free appetizer.

“We’re so grateful for our community partners throughout Jackson and Madison County,” Heard said. “In recent years, we’ve seen more and more people help us out with this, and we hope to see that continue because a lot of families in our district need that help.”

For more information, call Heard at 731-506-2413.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news