Inside MAS Charter School’s First Annual Clothing Drive

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, a steady stream of vehicles began pulling up to the gymnasium entrance at MAS Charter School’s Yale campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, more than 50 volunteers, including students, unloaded bags of donated clothing, shoes, and other essentials from trunks and back seats.

Over the next four hours, the school held its first annual clothing drive, collecting dozens of bags of items intended for students across the Duke City.

The event marked the school’s first-ever organized clothing drive for the benefit of Locker #505 Students Clothing Bank. It brought together MAS students, staff, and community members in a coordinated effort that reflected both an immediate need and a broader commitment to community service.

A Morning of Steady Effort

Donations arrived at a steady pace throughout the morning. Drivers pulled up, student volunteers approached the vehicles, and bags were passed hand to hand into a trailer for delivery six and a half miles away to Locker #505’s Menaul Blvd. NE location. Teams aboard the trailer sorted and organized the items, keeping the flow moving as more cars arrived.

In total, 52 volunteers contributed more than 200 hours to the effort, gathering up close to 70 large bags of donated items. MAS students made up the majority of that group, with 35 volunteers contributing a combined 136 hours.

“It was a successful event for our first endeavor,” said Pam Janes, MAS New Student Placement Coordinator and ELL Coordinator, who organized the drive. “The number of volunteers exceeded my expectations in both staff participation and student participation."

The morning’s weather added a layer of unpredictability to the event. Winds moved through the area that morning, although Janes later described the effort as a “beautiful day of community service,” shaped less by conditions than by participation.

Students Leading the Work

Student volunteers took on visible roles throughout the event. They kindly greeted donors, unloaded bags from vehicles, and carried them to the trailer for sorting. The work was physical and continuous, requiring coordination and attention as donations accumulated.

Students from both MAS’ Yale and Old Coors campuses participated, reflecting a shared effort across the school community. For many, the experience offered a direct connection between service and the needs of their peers.

The event aligned with MAS Charter School’s approach as a Certified Choose Love School, where students engage with principles such as courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion in action. The clothing drive translated those ideas, especially compassion in action, into a practical setting, where support was measured in effort and time.

Extending Reach Through Partnership

All donations supported Locker #505, a nonprofit organization that has provided school-appropriate clothing to more than 40,000 students across the greater Albuquerque metro area, including Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties. The organization operates a student-focused clothing bank where children can try on and select outfits themselves. The model is designed to ensure that students feel comfortable and confident in what they wear to school.

Access to appropriate clothing allows students to focus on their schoolwork and supports consistent attendance. For some, it removes a barrier that might otherwise keep them out of the classroom.

Clothing Drive Support Was Found Across the School

Janes credited a wide group of staff members and partners for supporting the effort, including:

• JoAnn Mitchell, Founder and CEO
• Marty Murphy, Director of Safety & Facilities
• Daniel Payan, Operation Support Specialist
• Sandra Rivas, Bilingual Administrative Assistant
• Jennifer Felix, Managing Director of Operations
• Tara Jones, College & Career Readiness Counselor
• Millicent Pryce, College & Career Readiness Counselor
• Kathy McClendon, Director of Program Completion and Compliance
• Canteen of Central New Mexico, the school’s food service partner

Teachers also played a role in promoting the drive in classrooms, which helped in building student awareness in the weeks leading up to the event.

Future Clothing Drives: Looking Ahead

Following the turnout and level of participation, Janes said she plans to propose making the clothing drive an annual event. This first year established a foundation, both in terms of logistics and in community response.

The results were measurable in bags collected and hours contributed. The impact will be visible over time, in classrooms where students will be wearing new-to-them clothing that enables them to better focus on learning.

Student Volunteers

The following students each volunteered four (4) hours in support of the clothing drive:

Ajahni Carty, grade 11; Jan Aguilar, grade 12; Nathan Simpson, grade 11; Haley Jaramillo, grade 9; Emma Romero, grade 9; Braulio Juarez, grade 10; Loiyan Taylor, grade 3; Chloe Taylor, grade 8; Satya Molina, grade 9; Antonio Garcia, grade 9; Andrew Camacho, grade 9; Noel Gonzales, grade 9; Tiannah Davis, grade 9; Ladi Davis, grade 9; Eduardo Marrufo, grade 9; Brianna Rodriguez, grade 10; Brian Sanchez, grade 10; Isis Garcia, grade 11; Herminia Cigarroa, grade 9; Kamila Marrufo, grade 9; Halo Cortez, grade 9; Arianna Rodriguez, grade 9; Jatzenny Trejo, grade 9; Yudanny Gutierrez, grade 10; Jahazid Baca, grade 9; Areth Ramirez, grade 11; Adan Rivera, grade 9; Ezekiel Moya, grade 9; Isabella Luge, grade 9; Evelyn Dominguez, grade 9; Alain Pacheco, grade 9; Blake David, grade 9; Cristian Romero, grade 9; LilyAnn Lohmann, grade 9; and Payton Franco, grade 9.

Learn more about the inspiration behind the clothing drive by exploring:

• Locker #505 Students Clothing Bank
• Choose Love at MAS Charter School
• Jessie Lewis Choose Love Movement