PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A new store is set to open in the city of Pine Bluff, and it's not run by a Fortune 500 company looking to make millions but created out of love to spread love.
“This is an opportunity, that their basic needs are met, but also their academic needs are growing, and that is the ultimate goal," explained Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keith McGhee.
The Wildcat Store is a new initiative within the Watson Chapel School District that aims to make essentials accessible to the entire student body.
The project leader, newly hired Superintendent McGhee said that with this store, the only buying happening is the buy-in from the community.
Everything is free for students, and Superintendent McGhee said he's grateful he could provide them with this.
“You see a bunch of items that have been donated from our community members, our employees, and just everybody that want to contribute from all of our stakeholders," McGhee said. “Sometimes you go to a school system where you got to push people to come and connect. We have them. We have a very supportive board. We have a lot of employees who are very, very passionate, loved educated, and loved being a part of the school system and being able to control or help change the trajectory of our students and where they're going. So I'm blessed to be a part of this as the newbie.”
Though offered to all students, Pre-K through seniors in high school, the store is located on the campus of L.L. Owen Elementary School.
The Director of Student Support Services Kerri McNeal said the district decided to be resourceful and transform an old technology room to give it new life.
“We cleaned out this building and we totally redid it. We made one side for food and toiletry items, and then one side for clothing items. So, the goal is to fill it up and to keep it full so our families can have everything that they need. Winter time is coming, so we know coats and those types of things are going to be a necessity for our students," she explained.
Several students are also a part of the initiative, including juniors Terrance Wyrick and Jessica Parker.
“To me, being a Wildcat is to be full of a beacon of hope, to be hope for others, to have, you know, the person that they need, and to show that they love and care for each other," Wyrick said. "It makes me feel proud to be a part of this district. It makes me feel proud to be a Wildcat. And it's also a way that I can look up to them for leadership and to say when I graduate in the next school year, that I'll too come back and be a part of that legacy."
“We are on their side and we have their back, but it's another thing to say. But, I like how we are doing action, so we're showing action. So we show them that we love them, instead of telling them," Parker added.
From the oldest Wildcat alumni to the youngest, students said every contribution no matter the size is an investment in their future and the ones that come behind.