The washer and dryer initiative is an effort to increase student attendance and engagement.
By meeting this basic need of having clean clothes, Halifax County Schools recognizes that there are external factors derailing efforts to educate its students, Superintendent Eric Cunningham said. “Many children in Halifax County Schools are missing school because they did not have clean clothes to wear and we decided something had to be done. Many of our children come from low-income homes and if money was tight, the laundry wouldn’t get done at all. Some have a washer and dryer at home but the electricity was shut off.”
Because of the stigma associated with the lack of cleanliness, students will miss days from school, causing them to fall farther and farther behind academically.
The washer and dryer initiative is just one step toward deepening wrap-around support for the student.
“Dignity is what it’s about,” said Reverend Dennis McLain, president and CEO of Goodwill Community Foundation. “Cleanliness is a key component to dignity.”
The donation demonstrates the commitment to creating opportunities for a better life in the lives of children, McLain said. “Serving this basic need will be transformational for every single child who needs this resource. GCF commends Halifax County Schools for recognizing the needs of its students. If in some small way, as a result of this gift, a child can have some sort of dignity, we believe that Halifax County Schools can touch a life in a very extraordinary way.”
The process of laundering student clothes will be customized and may vary from school to school.
There will be a total of 14 sets of commercial washers and dryers purchased.
Those schools receiving two sets of washers and dryers are:
Enfield Middle School
William R. Davie Middle School
Northwest Halifax High School
Southeast Halifax High School
Those schools receiving one washer and one dryer are:
Inborden Elementary School
Pittman Elementary School
Aurelian Springs Elementary School
Everetts Elementary School
Hollister Elementary School
Scotland Neck Elementary School
