How One Ohio Realtor's Nonprofit Benefits Local Schoolchildren
Tammy Koleski of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, in Ohio, started a nonprofit called Wee Care Closet after her sister, Pam, found discounted items for schools at thrift stores. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing essential items and extras to area schools in need. Koleski's initiative helps students access school supplies, clothing, sports equipment, and more, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says.
The nonprofit aims to establish on-campus closets in all county schools to ensure easy access to necessities. Koleski funds Wee Care Closet through personal contributions and has received some small grants, with hopes for increased community support.
Koleski hopes that all of the schools in Lorain County can establish an on-campus closet so that children have access to what they need. She acknowledges that the schools are on the front lines. “The teachers are the first to know what these kids and their families need, and they don’t have the money to spend on these things, so our goal is to make it so that they can just walk a student down the hall to the closet to find what they need.”
Koleski independently funds Wee Care Closet through her own personal contributions. She and her sister’s homes function as storage for the items schools don’t have space to house.