Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Bulldog Boutique at Marbury High School is a new addition as of October of last year, where students can “shop” for necessities such as hygiene products, clothes, shoes and even gifts for their families during the holidays.
After the tornado that tore through the community last year, special education teacher Carolyn Carpenter saw a need in school and started to find ways to make her vision a reality. Through Carpenter’s church, Heritage Baptist Church in Prattville, people started leaving hygiene items at her pew before she could even sit down.
“It was very overwhelming to start. It’s because it was so much stuff. But once you get it going, I don’t understand how this couldn’t be county-wide. When I started this, I’d come into church and the church ladies would have stuff on my pew that I sit in. I’m like wow, this is incredible and so the community has really bought into this. We’re just really excited about it, and hopefully as it grows, we get a classroom,” Carpenter said.
The Bulldog Boutique is currently housed within the media center, where there’s always a teacher in the room. Students can sign up to “shop” at certain times on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Boutique is open on Wednesday’s and Friday’s, also at regulated and specific times.
Students that shop receive five hygiene bucks and three clothing bucks. Hygiene products such as toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, body wash and other shower necessities, feminine hygiene products, body wipes and even kits made by the community are all available. Each item is worth one hygiene buck.
“I currently have half of a classroom that a teacher is graciously letting me use for our back stock. I could possibly start three more boutiques this size with the back stock of clothes that I have because the community has been so incredible,” Carpenter said.
Along with the hygiene products, the Bulldog Boutique is also stocked with clothes of both mens and womens of all sizes as well as other items that according to Carpenter, that the students love. Carpenter confirmed their current obsession is backpacks and mechanical pencils.
The Boutique also has fun items such as bracelets, and other jewelry, hats and the Boutique even had prom dresses available for this year’s prom season.
The SGA, or Student Government Association and the Life Skills Class at Marbury High are the key players in keeping the Bulldog Boutique operational, Carpenter confirmed.
Carpenter’s mom, Leisa Lee, Marbury’s self-contained special education teacher, and Carpenter work together with inventory, along with the SGA. The self contained class makes sure all inventory is washed, dried and categorized and inventoried. Then SGA takes the hard work from the self contained class and ensures that it gets on the shelves of the Boutique.
“We really wanted to meet the basic needs of students because if they’re worried about, how they’re going to get a shower today, what they’re taking to the bathroom at home, if they’re going to have clean clothes this week, how can you ask them to focus on algebra?” Carpenter said.
Carpenter confirmed they do receive many gracious donations and she is always grateful, but where the biggest current need lies in the mens clothing, specifically larger sizes of mens clothing.
“I could possibly start three more boutiques this size with the back stock of clothes that I have because the community has been so incredible. We have a good amount of shoes and women’s clothing, but men’s clothes for sure is something we lack. We only ask for new or gently used because we don’t want it to feel like a thrift store,” Carpenter said.
While the school year is ending, the Bulldog Boutique is here to stay. Any inquires about donations can be made to Carpenter via email at Carolyn.Carpenter@ACBOE.net or to Marbury High School.
