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Crater clothes shed offers ‘Threads of Hope’ for students By Kevin Opsahl Nov 03, 2022 01:00 AM A A Austin Frost, 16, looks for clothes Monday at the Threads of Hope shed at Crater High School. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune] School psychologist Mackenzie Zupan organizes clothes Monday at Threads of Hope. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune] A beige shedlike structure tucked between two buildings at Central Point’s Crater High School might seem inconspicuous to anyone passing by. But inside is hope — Threads of Hope. That’s the name of a project started six years ago by retired school district employee Michelle King Hollamon Grush, who wanted to have a place to compile donated clothes for students who need them. Austin Frost, a junior, started picking out items such as jeans back when the donations were merely stored in a high school closet. “Since I’m such a small person, nothing fits me, but when I went to Threads of Hope, everything fit me perfectly,” Frost said. “I honestly started to cry because I hadn’t had a pair of pants that fit my waist months before that.” Inside the shed Monday were blue jeans, khakis, utility work pants and other items for men hanging on the left; with colorful shirts for women hanging on the right, along with a small shelf full of footwear, from sandals to tennis shoes. “I can go to them, and I know they will come through with pants, shirts or socks,” Frost said, adding that he’s also got shoes, a beanie, hoodies and boxers out of the shed. “They have really good stuff — and some you can’t find at stores.” Even though Threads of Hope has been part of the Crater High School campus for a while now, it is getting increased attention this school year, according to school counselor Mackenzie Zupan. Zupan, who has taken the lead on the project, said Threads of Hope has its own social media presence, which is attracting more donations and never-before-worn clothing. “Our clothing closet is completely packed full,” Zupan said. “So, we’re actually using the old room it was in as overflow.” And now, the Threads for Hope donations are coming not just from district families, but from community members, as well. “Central Point is such a tight-knit community, and we’re the only high school,” Zupan said, “so having people coming and providing for the youth, making them feel connected to the community, is great. I think that it’s awesome to get donations from people who are not part of the Crater community.” Zupan pointed to a large bin of coats and sweatshirts — perfect for the coming winter — that recently came in from a community member. She noted some of the items included coats from top brands, such as Eddie Bauer and The North Face, which can cost over $100, depending on the item. “Getting that donation was awesome because we were actually able to get clothes with new tags, which meant that kids were actually able to get something that wasn’t worn out,” Zupan said. “They were able to claim it as their own and remove those tags themselves. Some kids have never experienced removing tags from clothing before.” Zupan, a Crater counselor for the past year, has watched countless students enter the Threads of Hope shed. “At first, they’re nervous, because it can be an uncomfortable situation,” she said. “But once they get warmed up to the idea that these are their clothes, that they get to pick out whatever they want, they walk out really excited. They light up.” Zupan is also keenly aware of the impact a new wardrobe can have on her students’ performance in school. “I think a lot of times, kids who struggle getting clothes have a hard time feeling good in the clothes that they get because it’s not something they’ve gotten to pick out,” Zupan said, “so having new clothes provided to them that are fashion sensible and may actually fit them makes the kids’ confidence boost.” Frost, who was wearing pants and socks from the Threads of Hope shed Monday, said the clothes indeed do give him more confidence — and a little something else, too. “It gives me hope,” Frost said. Reach reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno