Charity distributes free uniforms to students in north Minneapolis

A charity is handing out more than 2,000 uniforms to students at five north Minneapolis elementary schools.

By EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune

Last update: September 16, 2009 - 8:37 PM

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At Lucy Laney Elementary in north Minneapolis on Wednesday, Principal David Branch watched a dozen volunteers fold shirts, measure third-graders' waists and hand them free school uniforms.

"It's hard for me to put into words how meaningful it is for our families," Branch said, pointing out how happy students looked to get a new uniform. "It's almost like Christmas; they really take pride in it."

Lucy Laney is one of five north Minneapolis schools that will receive two free uniforms for each of its students this year, thanks to a volunteer charity called Assistance Minneapolis. It raises money through donors, grants and its thrift store, and uses around $70,000 of it to provide uniforms for students each year.

Students at Lucy Laney are poor -- 92 percent of them are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches -- and, according to Branch, uniforms are a way to improve the school climate and take pressure off struggling parents to buy the latest fashions for their children.

"I think it's awesome," said Jackie Starr, who works as a community liaison for the district. She volunteered with the uniform distribution on Wednesday and has a granddaughter at the school. "One girl this morning told the volunteer that she'd been wearing the same outfit for three to four days," Starr said. "I like the fact that this puts all the kids on the same playing field."

This is the fourth year that students at Lucy Laney have worn uniforms, Branch said.

The school is now in the third year of the North Side Initiative, which was designed to strengthen schools that survived a district downsizing. Two years ago, the district closed five North Side schools and pledged to offer beefed-up programs at the remaining ones.

Performance in many of the schools has improved since. This year, 18 percent of students at Lucy Laney were proficient in math, compared to 11 last year. Nellie Stone Johnson had 35 percent of students proficient in math, compared to 20 percent last year.

On Wednesday, third-grader Lakisha Scott stood still as a volunteer held up a pair of khaki pants to her frame. The pants she had on were a few inches too short.

"You're tall," the volunteer said. "Try this on. If they're too big, we'll get you a smaller size."

Lakisha said she likes the new uniforms. "It's nice to come in and get the clothes, and I like to have the new uniform and wear it here," she said. "I like how it fits me."

Students in grades PreK-4 at Cityview, Elizabeth Hall, Lucy Laney, Jenny Lind and Nellie Stone Johnson will each receive two pairs of pants, one short-sleeved shirt and one long-sleeved shirt. The Assistance League plans on providing more than 2,000 uniforms to students.

"When they come and get new clothes, they are so happy to get ready to learn," said Luana Metil, president of one of the Assistance League's local chapters, which has 150 women as volunteers. The League has 126 chapters nationwide.

Third-grade teacher Feta Holder said she's noticed that her students focus better when they're in uniforms and don't have to worry about competition via clothing.

Students in her class couldn't wait to get their uniform, she said.

"They were excited," she said. "They have something to change into."

Emily Johns • 612-673-7460

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