Seneca Valley High School Launches Free Store For Students

HARMONY, PA — Seneca Valley School District staff and students have launched a new store in the senior high school for students needing food, clothing or other items. The No Cost to Shop outlet allows students to establish a private time to shop and take what they need for free.

The store, which opened Nov. 1, is available for students in grades 7-12.

The idea for the shop originated with Michelle Eppinger, a special education job coach paraprofessional at the high school. Last year, she approached high school administrators with concerns that some students needs were not being met because of the pandemic.

Eppinger suggested the idea of a brick and mortar school to remedy the problem.

Eppinger, along with Seneca Valley job coaches, teachers, maintenance workers and numerous students collected donations and sorted, folded and categorized various hygiene items. Their efforts were bolstered in June when the Seneca Valley Foundation donated $3,000 to assist with the store's fixtures, furniture, racks and decor.

Seneca Valley Transition Planning, Career and Vocational Education Coordinator Jess Pyle involved community-based vocational training and vocational readiness students and their job coaches. These students operate the store by taking inventory, checking donation boxes, and doing laundry while gaining real work experience.

“It is great to see the collaboration of all students working together towards one common goal, " Pyle said in a district release.“The students in vocational readiness and CBVT are gaining employment skills that they can transfer into the community, while providing students in need essential daily living items. Overall, many students are benefiting from No Cost to Shop. "

Students from Jason Woolslare’s art classes designed and painted a screen to add artistic flair to the space and high school teacher Bruce Clark made and donated a bench for students to use when trying on shoes.

No Cost to Shop is always looking for donations of new or gently used items. A bin is located in captured entrance of the senior high school near the main office.

Specific needs include:

• Hairbrushes
• Hangers
• New hygiene products
• Men’s clothing
• Shoes

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