For three years, faculty, students and community members have been filling an old supply closet with necessities for students at Picayune Memorial High School.

This week, the Veterans and Citizens Supporting Students club led by Allison Wheat and Bill Roberts moved their necessities closet into an old classroom at the school.

The service provides uniforms, shampoo, shoes and prom dresses to any student who has a need, Wheat said.

“Sometimes kids will come in here and tell her they need something, and Allison will go out and get the girl’s size and go out and buy it, that makes a big difference,” Roberts said.

Meanwhile, the students are also giving back to the effort by volunteering to organize and keep the closet clean, in addition to making donations when they can, she said.

“It feels so good to see something you were part of grow,” Wheat said.

Larry Barrios, of Larry’s Dry Leaning in Picayune, donated old clothing racks and clothes that weren’t picked up from the store for more than three years, he said.

“I was a recipient [of these programs] when I was younger, that’s why I always like to give back,” Barrios said.

While many of the students in the Picayune School District take advantage of the program, Wheat said she hopes more students start to see how they can receive some assistance.

“It’s all a cycle. If we can keep these kids in school and keep them coming to school and get them to graduate then we’ve accomplished a huge goal here,” Wheat said.

Though students may be hesitant to accept help at first, many of them are grateful and take pride in the clothes they receive and return to help in whatever way they can, Wheat said.

“I want the kids to be able to feel like they can come to me,” she said.

Wheat teaches World History and Western Civics classes at the high school, and organizes the annual Veterans Day event.

She said her students actively volunteer to help with these programs because after learning about the Great Depression and the Chinese Civil War, they realize the advantages they havef and want to give what they can to help others.

“They recognize there are kids that they know in this school and elsewhere that don’t have what they have,” Wheat said. “Some of them are friends of theirs and they see their friends struggling and they want to help everyone out.”

“This is something unique, not just for Picayune,” Roberts said. “It puts a hand out to the students who need help.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation or know someone who needs assistance, email Wheat at awheat@pcu.k12.ms.us or call the school at 601-798-1380.