Clothing exchange at Central High School experiences low turnout

Sometimes having the best intentions doesn't mean a project will be successful.

Carlynn Forst, art teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, learned that lesson Tuesday when her clothing-exchange initiative at the high school suffered because of a lack of participation.

"I think people had a lot of other things to do," she said.

The clothing exchange, held in the commons area of Central High School, accepted clothing from small sizes up to adult sizes. Participants were encouraged to bring clothes and exchange them for other articles of clothing available. The only rules were the clothing being exchanged must be clean and in good condition, and participants must not take more than they brought.

"It's about bringing people together," Forst said before the exchange opened. "The exchange is a way of recycling clothing so that people can get it without having to invest any money."

The shirts and pants available for exchange were neatly folded or hung on a rack in the commons area when the exchange opened at 3 p.m. But there was a noticeable lack of people coming to the high school to take advantage of the event.

Joe Bradshaw, social studies teacher at Central High School who volunteered to help with the exchange, offered a unique explanation.

"If nobody shows up, then maybe the economy's not as bad as it seems," Bradshaw said.

Later, two of Forst's students, Autumn and Nicole Dugan, were the first to arrive with three trash bags of clothing.

"We had a lot of clothes," Autumn Dugan said. "We were going to donate somewhere else, but we thought this was a neat idea."

The Dugan sisters exchanged what they brought for three shirts and a pair of jeans.

The surplus clothing from the exchange that met dress-code guidelines were to be distributed among Cape Girardeau public schools. Items that didn't meet the guidelines would be donated to the Safe House for Women.

"Even if nobody comes," Bradshaw said, "we'll be able to donate the clothing we have available to the Safe House. That's a good thing."

Forst said a "test" clothing exchange she held last semester was well-received but there was low participation at that time, as well.

"I think it may be that people just aren't aware of what we're offering," she said. "Maybe they don't think that we have nice items here."

The event was scheduled to last until 6 p.m., but it closed early because of the lack of interest.

Dr. Mike Cowan, principal of Central High School, said the clothing exchange was an idea with potential.

"But it may take awhile for it to become more well known," he said. "I think in time it can become more established and identified with Cape Central."

klewis@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1000 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO