
Catie’s Closet
Model & Strategy
Over 19 million students live in poverty in the United States. For these students, focusing on education is yet another hardship they must endure. Lack of basic necessities is reported as one of the top ten reasons for reduced school attendance according to the Massachusetts school board. In Massachusetts alone, over 5,700 students dropped out of high school in 2014, costing taxpayers $1.7 billion in lost wages over the course of their lives.
Catie’s Closet improves school attendance and removes social stigma by discreetly distributing clothing, toiletries, and shoes to low-income students (Pre-K through 12th grade). Catie’s Closet makes it easy and positive for students in schools to access these basic needs via a retail-like storefront. Catie’s Closet builds a “store” or “walk in closet” right inside their school so that students have immediate access to what they need, free of charge. Offering age-appropriate clothing allows students increased self-esteem, a sense of belonging and a resource to alleviate the visible burden of poverty.
Long-term, the organization will use an affiliate model to partner with school districts in other states across the US.



Mickey Cockrell spent more than 30 years in the retail sector, providing leadership for Jordan Marsh, Filene’s and most recently as a Vice President for Kohl’s. Mickey is an innovator and problem-solver, and is known for creating high-impact marketing strategies. Her notable contributions include driving company expansion and operational efficiencies. Mickey is a MassChallenge Diamond Winner, EforAll top Winner and won the “Celebration of Excellence” Non-Profit of the Year award.
IMPACT
Launched in 2010, Catie’s Closet operates in 90 schools in nine cities, within two states, serving 55,000 students. Of the 90 schools where Catie’s Closet operates, 76 are in Massachusetts and 14 are in New Hampshire. Based on the success of their business model, Boston Public Schools has chosen Catie’s Closet to be a partner in all 125 of their schools. Positioned in 27 Boston Public Schools to date, Catie’s Closet will meet their needs over three years. A second Distribution Center located in Boston opened in 2019.
In the short term, Catie’s Closet will open three additional distribution HUBs in Massachusetts, two of which will serve New Bedford and Worcester’s estimated 308,000 students, while the third will open in Springfield in March 2020.
The organization has developed an affiliate model to collaborate with school districts in other states across the nation, to serve the 30,000,000 students living in poverty in the US in the long term. The program is underway with Long Island piloting the model.
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⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Thank you @TonnesonCo, @jdcreditunion, Northpoint Construction Management and Ellen Andre, our generous spons… https://t.co/umwRKoSL2d
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Lexi Mack's #BatMitzvahProject organized a drive and collected donations from Kenzie and Hope, in #Wellesley. The d… https://t.co/NJgsZpeFde
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Top requested items in our closets, underwear. With an average cost of a package of #underwear is $8-$15, you can h… https://t.co/vMYAtxVEr6
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Girls who experience #period #poverty are unable to purchase the #menstrual products they need. This = school absen… https://t.co/BZQY0DLQjN
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A 15-year old girl living in poverty faces immense challenges. Catie’s Closet creates a place she can turn to for h… https://t.co/4UZk3IPPQY
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75,000 children have access to clothing and toiletries in school as a result of Catie’s Closet’s work. How do we… https://t.co/Arozlijm0T
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Take a field trip to Catie’s Closet, see what’s behind the door! June 8, 4-8pm in Dracut 🎟️Tickets $75 -heavy ho… https://t.co/4jnyPIgJ5x
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Today is National Teachers' Day and this week is #TeacherAppreciationWeek! Learn more about how Catie's Closet he… https://t.co/rwgxdHa2Me
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💫 Making dreams come true! ✨ As the Prom season begins we are pleased to offer our students prom dresses. We strive… https://t.co/IDu2Tontsg
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🤗 We are so thankful for @Showaboston volunteering 3 days a week through July! You can give too! 🕘 Time-… https://t.co/s2JJ6wkrha
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For many #kids in need, they do not have access to the funds to buy themselves something brand new of their very ow… https://t.co/Hu69ZCsdDS
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Warm weather raises a concern of body odor. Give reassurance to a male student in need, donate full size deodorant.… https://t.co/keukqdP2xR
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Did you know that one of the top reasons economically disadvantaged students miss school is because they do not hav… https://t.co/rhfDyNWYBv
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84% of clothing ends up in landfills or incinerators. The average American generates about 80 pounds of textile was… https://t.co/saCVhUzm02
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By providing a dignified, welcoming space for ALL of our students, we are providing them with an empowering experie… https://t.co/SXsyxSYYzb
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Children experience the educational impacts of #poverty in their very early years. #Catie'sCloset strives to help t… https://t.co/Q8wrWvATVw
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"Supporting children’s mental health is an investment in the next generation of our workforce."… https://t.co/w7Xs3a1A1G
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Children's feet grow half a size every 3-4 months. Children in poverty are no different. Have you experienced needi… https://t.co/zLGFR5ZQ0N
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In Mildred School 🏫 !! Helping more and more children. We are not done! More schools need us, children in poverty n… https://t.co/LFdjITKYCL
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Feeling good about what we do, helping children in poverty. 33 students at BINcA(Boston International Newcomers Aca… https://t.co/eesPLdd14Y