Greeley grads: Monday, July 20 is last day donate graduation gowns. Drop at the H.S.

A chance for Greeley grads to pass on their gowns
Updated July 20, 2009
by Marisol Nieves

Graduates from Horace Greeley High School Class of 2009 have begun participating in “Operation Cap and Gown,” which involves donating their blue graduation caps and gowns to next year’s graduates at the Manhattan High School of Mathematics and Science.

The Manhattan High School of Mathematics and Science was identified as the recipient school by The Children’s Aid Society, which operates after school programs at 21 community schools in New York City in partnership with the Department of Education. The donations will help low income families with students at the school by relieving them of the financial burden of purchasing caps and gowns for their graduates.

The collection is made possible through the idea and effort of “Clothes Off Your Back,” a student run club at Greeley that collects used and recycled clothing. “The idea came to me when my sister, a recent HGHS graduate, told me she didn’t have to return her cap and gown,” said the club’s president Caroline Pecker, a rising senior at the high school. “The caps and gowns are worn one time for just two hours then are put away and never seen again,” Pecker noted. “Surely there was a high school that could benefit from our donation.”

Inspired by a similar clothes donation idea called “Operation Fairy Dust,” which collects prom dresses to give to high school girls who are not able to afford to purchase their dream dress, Pecker decided that collecting caps and gowns was a great way to eliminate the cost to purchase the required two-hour ceremonial outfit. She hopes that the cap and gown donation becomes a Greeley tradition. Next year, when she graduates it is her intention to take this donation campaign to high schools throughout Westchester County.

Donations can be made from July 13 – 20 by dropping off caps and gowns in a box at the Main Office at Horace Greeley High School, 66 Roaring Brook Road, Chappaqua. For an alternative drop-off location or for more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Marisol Nieves is the In Kind Project Manager at the Children’s Aid Society in New York City.