Rotary Club of Selma launches Caring Closet at Selma elementary school

The Rotary Club of Selma launched a Caring Closet project at Bruce K. Craig Elementary School in 2025 that provides immediate-need items to 300 students.

Rotary Club of Selma used a $3,000 district Rotary grant to stock a Caring Closet at the Selma school with items that the students in Pre-K through fifth grades need but are not ordinarily provided by the district.

BK Craig, which is adjacent to Craig Field, closed in August and students moved to Southside Elementary. Rotary members returned to the school in August to move the closet to their new campus.

The closet is packed with items such as new uniform pants and shirts, hoodies, undershirts and underwear, socks, deodorant, toothbrushes, snacks and bottled water that Rotary Club hoped would help the students feelcomfortable while learning, said Rotary President Cindy Fisher. 

“Children learn better when they are feeling their best,” Fisher said.  

When Rotary started the project and selected BK Craig as the recipient, a team of Rotarians met with Principal Alison Turner and other staff to identify needs for the closet. And they found that the school – like many others – already had a closet with a handful of items to meet these immediate needs just at a smaller level. It is manned by secretary Aurielle Boyd. When they moved to Southside Primary, the school dedicated a full unused classroom.

The club decided to ramp up the school’s efforts and stock a full Caring Closet. Rotary started by installing a large shelf donated by Rotarian Adam Day. Then they bought several Rubbermaid containers and packed them with the bulk items bought on Amazon since there is no warehouse retailer like Sam’s in the Black Belt. Morgan Academy’s Interact Club donated hoodies and sweatshirts. And Rural Health Medical Program agreed to provide health items like toothbrushes. 

The team also got donations such as bottled water from Pepsi in Selma and 50 pounds of snack food items from the Selma Area Food Bank. Rotary bought the school a washer-dryer set that was delivered in April so the teachers could wash the Pre-K napmats while at school instead of taking turns taking them home every weekend. 

President Cindy Fisher said the club wanted to help teachers cover the cost to meet children’s needs that they often pay for out of their pockets.  

“Supplying the children with basic needs items helps them learn better in their school environment, it levels the playing field for those at a disadvantage at home and increases their academic performance and quality of life,” said Fisher, who also is publisher of the Selma Sun and Black Belt News Network. “Not having adequate and appropriate clothing can impact a variety of social and economic aspects of a child’s life, including peer acceptance and education opportunities.” 

Principal Turner said the school has been able to send the food home with the children in the most need and appreciates having the uniform shirts and pants for those without extras and mess up their clothes during the day. 

“We are so grateful to be one of your partners,” Turner said, adding that having items in a closet “gives the children additional support during the school year.” 

Dallas County Superintendent Anthony Sampson said it’s the principal’s role to connect with the community and understand the needs of students and their families. What the principal communicates to service organizations like Rotary to fill those needs makes an impact on the students’ learning experience, he said. 

“The Caring Closet touches more than individual kids – it impacts families,” said Sampson, who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Selma. “We appreciate the work of Rotary and are pleased to partner with the club. They are making a difference in the lives of students.” 

Fisher added that the project answers Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” by investing in and supporting the community’s youth. 

“I wish we could support a Caring Closet in every Selma-Dallas County school,” she added. 

The Rotary Club of Selma launched a Caring Closet project at Bruce K. Craig Elementary School in 2025 that provides immediate-need items to 300 students.

Rotary Club of Selma used a $3,000 district Rotary grant to stock a Caring Closet at the Selma school with items that the students in Pre-K through fifth grades need but are not ordinarily provided by the district.  

BK Craig, which is adjacent to Craig Field, closed in August and students moved to Southside Primary. Rotary members returned to the school in August to move the closet to their new campus.

The closet is packed with items such as new uniform pants and shirts, hoodies, undershirts and underwear, socks, deodorant, toothbrushes, snacks and bottled water that Rotary Club hoped would help the students feelcomfortable while learning, said Rotary President Cindy Fisher. 

“Children learn better when they are feeling their best,” Fisher said.  

When Rotary started the project and selected BK Craig as the recipient, a team of Rotarians met with Principal Alison Turner and other staff to identify needs for the closet. And they found that the school – like many others – already had a closet with a handful of items to meet these immediate needs just at a smaller level. It is manned by secretary Aurielle Boyd. When they moved to Southside Primary, the school dedicated a full unused classroom.

The club decided to ramp up the school’s efforts and stock a full Caring Closet. Rotary started by installing a large shelf donated by Rotarian Adam Day. Then they bought several Rubbermaid containers and packed them with the bulk items bought on Amazon since there is no warehouse retailer like Sam’s in the Black Belt. Morgan Academy’s Interact Club donated hoodies and sweatshirts. And Rural Health Medical Program agreed to provide health items like toothbrushes. 

The team also got donations such as bottled water from Pepsi in Selma and 50 pounds of snack food items from the Selma Area Food Bank. Rotary bought the school a washer-dryer set that was delivered in April so the teachers could wash the Pre-K napmats while at school instead of taking turns taking them home every weekend. 

President Cindy Fisher said the club wanted to help teachers cover the cost to meet children’s needs that they often pay for out of their pockets.  

“Supplying the children with basic needs items helps them learn better in their school environment, it levels the playing field for those at a disadvantage at home and increases their academic performance and quality of life,” said Fisher, who also is publisher of the Selma Sun and Black Belt News Network. “Not having adequate and appropriate clothing can impact a variety of social and economic aspects of a child’s life, including peer acceptance and education opportunities.” 

Principal Turner said the school has been able to send the food home with the children in the most need and appreciates having the uniform shirts and pants for those without extras and mess up their clothes during the day. 

“We are so grateful to be one of your partners,” Turner said, adding that having items in a closet “gives the children additional support during the school year.” 

Dallas County Superintendent Anthony Sampson said it’s the principal’s role to connect with the community and understand the needs of students and their families. What the principal communicates to service organizations like Rotary to fill those needs makes an impact on the students’ learning experience, he said. 

“The Caring Closet touches more than individual kids – it impacts families,” said Sampson, who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Selma. “We appreciate the work of Rotary and are pleased to partner with the club. They are making a difference in the lives of students.” 

Fisher added that the project answers Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” by investing in and supporting the community’s youth. 

“I wish we could support a Caring Closet in every Selma-Dallas County school,” she added.