No student should worry about attending school hungry or without access to basic necessities.

But a growing number do, which is why Canyons School District created a the Resource Closet, a central storehouse of food and hygiene items and school supplies that Canyons schools can draw upon to replenish their pantries or extend a little emergency support to students and families in need.

Homelessness is a growing problem. Every year in America, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness. In Utah, according to the Crossroads Urban Center, the number of families with children who use emergency homelessness services increased by 30 percent from 2021 to 2022.

“With inflation, homelessness, and food insecurity on the rise, more families are struggling financially,” said Michele Vogeler, CSD’s Community Schools Specialist. “And not just in our Title I schools. There are students experiencing homelessness in every one of the schools here in the Canyons District.”

In this episode of Connect Canyons, we sit down with Vogeler and Canyons Education Foundation Officer Denise Haycock who partners with Vogeler on keeping the Resource Closet replenished.

“One of the best things the Education Foundation does, is to help our students in need,” says Haycock. “If there’s a student out there that needs some help with school supplies or clothing or something like that, we also want to take care of those needs so they can be successful in school.”

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

We discuss the rising number of families facing homelessness and economic hardships.

00:45 – Meet the Guests

Haycock and Vogler go over how they work to help students and families within the Canyons community.

02:31 – About the Resource Closet

We learn about how the Resource Closet came to be and how the Canyons Education Foundation and Federal and State Programs work together to support the community.

04:45 – Items in the Closet

Vogler and Haycock talk about the items available for families in the Resource Closet, from shoes and hats to school supplies and laundry detergent.

06:00 – Utilizing the Resource Closet

We learn how schools work with Haycock and Vogler to request items for students and families and how they work to ensure requests are properly fulfilled.

31:11 – Donating to the Closet

Community members can donate to the Resource Closet whether with in-kind donations, monetary donations, or gift cards staff can use to fill immediate requests.

36:52 – Impact and Outreach

Hancock and Vogler share how they’ve seen the Resource Closet impact the community and marvel at how members of the community step up to help one another.

The Resource Closet is always in need of in-kind as well as monetary donations. To make a monetary donation, click here. If you would like to donate an in-kind donation of shoes, supplies of any sort, or gift cards, contact Vogeler or Haycock.

Denise Haycock – Development Officer, Canyons Education Foundation
denise.haycock@canyonsdistrict.org
801-826-5178

Michele Vogeler – Community Schools Specialist, Canyons School District
michele.vogeler@canyonsdistrict.org
801-826-5023