Mrs. Field’s Closet is a nonprofit founded by Tammy White in memory of elementary school counselor Becky Field, who died in 2018.

The first location of Mrs. Field’s Closet opened at Longfellow Elementary School in April 2019 to supply at-risk school children with school supplies. The organization also provides other essential life necessities, according to White, who spoke to a group of about 20 people at the dedication of the Central Campus location.

White said Field’s passing was a profound loss that inspired her to take the initiative and carry on her legacy. The goal of the resource closet is to empower children to learn, grow and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. The resource closet does this by making available items students need but don’t always have the resources for, such as hygiene items or school supplies.

White said if someone feels good, and they are taken care of, then learning is going to happen. Taking worry from students who may be in poverty benefits their learning and gives them the resources to be successful, benefitting their overall wellbeing, she said.

Ben Pifher/MDN Mrs. Field’s Closet’s second location is in the guidance office at Central Campus Middle School. Freedom Financial donated funds to the resource supply project on Monday.

White was aware of several teachers who would set up supply stations in their classrooms, which she said “is amazing, but I think our teachers are kind of overwhelmed, so that’s why I felt the importance of having the closet in the school.”

She said this is beneficial because counselors can become involved and students can get any additional resources they may need. It’s important that students know teachers are there to support them, White explained.

She said students are readily willing to get the things they need from the closets, and when students see someone in need, they direct them toward the program. White said there’s no judgment and no phone calls are made. The closet is simply there for students who may need it.

White’s goal is to get the help that the closet provides to any school that needs it, in honor of Field.

“Basically it’s me,” she said of the operations staff behind the program, “but the people of Longfellow Elementary, where I work, have been an incredible support system.”

White has collected donations of money and materials and, with the first location, has assisted about 400 students. The new location at Minot Central Campus will be available to more than 400 more.

White said she can be contacted by email or phone and is working on building a social media presence. She is looking for additional schools interested in having a closet or anyone interested in donating to the closet.

Melissa Nehlsen, the CEO of Freedom Financial, issued a challenge to other businesses to donate funds or supplies to Mrs. Field’s Closet. Her institution gave a substantial donation to the program.

Nehlsen said funding one of these closets costs about $3,000, and she encouraged other businesses to give what they can to enable the program to expand to more schools.