By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
September 3, 2024
Archie’s Promise has partnered with Rutherford County Schools for several years to provide personal hygiene items for students in need but decided the process needed to be simplified.
Archie’s Promise was founded in 2011 by Claressa Ham, a 2004 graduate of Blackman High School.
Well-known for its formalwear program, the non-profit donated hygiene supplies to the RCS ATLAS program during the COVID-19 pandemic. ATLAS serves students “who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence” under federal law.
“Our board came together and wanted to streamline it to take some of the load off (ATLAS Liaison Jessica Johnson),” Ham explained.
The solution? Archie’s Promise board members suggested filling vending machines with the most requested items. When a need arises, principals and school counselors access the machine immediately.
“It helps increase attendance if they know they can get what they need when they go to school. Hygiene is hope,” she added.
The first hygiene machine was installed at La Vergne High School in February, followed by Rockvale and Riverdale high schools and Christiana Middle.
In recent weeks, Smyrna Middle and Siegel High have received machines.
The program is currently limited to Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City school districts, despite requests from 20 other schools/districts in the area, Ham said.
“The goal is to have a machine in every middle and high school in Rutherford County Schools,” Ham said. “RCS is a really great school district. When we add extra perks to serve our kids, it helps us stand out and they know someone cares about them.”
Items in the machine are available to any student in need at no cost.
Dr. Takisha Ferguson, principal of Smyrna Middle, said the school has provided a “care closet” to provide similar items to students who need them.
“We partnered with some churches, but those items go so fast,” Ferguson said. “This is going to be a tremendous help.”
Vending machines are custom made in Iowa and have an average cost of $4,200. The rings that hold items in place are specific to each individual item. Because stocked items are determined by each school, inventory varies by location.
Common items include a five-day feminine hygiene pack, laundry sheets, deodorant, bar soap, snacks and packs with travel size shampoo/conditioner, Ham said. Archie’s Promise staff members replenish the machines weekly.
La Vergne and Whitworth-Buchanan middle schools are next on the list, Ham said. Schools interested in having a machine installed can reach out to Coordinated School Health Director Jenna Stitzel to be added to the waitlist.
Archie’s Promise has created this Amazon Wish List for donations: https://a.co/cdpIITS