The Noelle's Gift to Children charity is expanding its "Closet Initiative" across Sarnia-Lambton, launching a new sponsorship program to ensure local students have immediate access to essential clothing and hygiene products. Established in 2022, the initiative has already seen 72 closets built in area schools through partnerships with the Carpenters Union Local 1256 and Dow […]
The Noelle's Gift to Children charity is expanding its "Closet Initiative" across Sarnia-Lambton, launching a new sponsorship program to ensure local students have immediate access to essential clothing and hygiene products.
Established in 2022, the initiative has already seen 72 closets built in area schools through partnerships with the Carpenters Union Local 1256 and Dow Chemical. The charity reported that 11 additional closets were requested in 2024, leading to a "Phase 2" expansion in collaboration with Lambton College and the Judith & Norman Alix Foundation.
The program is designed to remove the "red tape" and stigma often associated with poverty. Rather than waiting for a family to request help or for a teacher to buy supplies out of pocket, staff can discreetly access the central closets to provide items the moment a need arises.
Commonly accessed items include:
Hygiene products and toiletries
New undergarments and socks
Backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles
Winter gear and emergency changes of clothing
Cam Gordon, Principal at P.E. McGibbon, noted that the closet has evolved into a "symbol of dignity" for students. He observed that meeting these basic needs directly contributes to improved mental health and better school attendance.
The expansion marks a shift toward a long-term, sustainable funding model. While initial builds were funded by corporate grants, the new Closet Sponsorship Initiative invites local businesses to adopt specific school closets through one, three, or five-year commitments.
Annual sponsorship costs $1,000, with funds going directly toward restocking the supplies requested by school principals. This model addresses a systemic gap, as provincial funding typically does not cover these types of emergency personal essentials for students.
The charity was founded in 2013 to honor the legacy of Noelle Paquette, a local teacher known for personally providing food and clothing to her students. To date, the organization has raised over $4 million to support marginalized children in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent.
