Lt. Gov. Hall-Long tours Milton Elementary basic needs closet

Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long visited Milton Elementary School May 29 to see its basic needs closet in action.

School social worker Gloria Ho, who coordinates the basic needs closet, gave Hall-Long a tour along with fourth-grader Suan Shirey.

The basic needs closet program is a collaborative, public-private initiative among the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Department of Education, Delaware public schools, healthcare institutions and private businesses. As an example, the Big Fish Charitable Foundation has been one of the lead program sponsors since it started in 2017.

The basic needs closet has the goal of providing elementary and middle school students with increased access to free products that will help them effectively participate in class, ready to learn and free from stigma or stress. Products available range from basic hygiene items like deodorant, menstrual products and toothpaste to school supplies. More than 40 schools actively participate in the program across the state, with the vast majority demonstrating some of the highest needs – Title I or Title I-eligible schools.

The initiative partners with First Book, a nonprofit that operates an online marketplace for school coordinators to order basic hygiene products and school supplies to stock their basic needs closet. Monetary donations received are tax-deductible and are sent directly to First Book, which distributes the funds to each participating school based on a formula derived from the Delaware Department of Education unit counts. This ensures each school receives an amount commensurate with its number of students. So far this year, more than 3,000 basic hygiene resources have been purchased from the marketplace through gift certificates. For more information, go to fbmarketplace.org/supplies or lltgov.delaware.gov/basic-needs-school-closets, or email LtGov_Comms@delaware.gov.