Cougar Closet Serves Hungry in Macomb, Gives Students Lesson in Community

Nestled between the classrooms and lockers of Dakota's Freshman Center sits a closet.

The space is no bigger than the average janitor's closet, but the items stored within speak to this location's purpose and significance. 

Pasta, canned vegetables, cleaning products and diapers are only a few of products stored in the Cougar Closet, a food pantry housed in the Freshman Center and open to all Macomb County residents.

"From Cougar Day on, when they come in for registration, we talk to students and parents about the closet," said Kim Voss, Freshman Center principal and lead organizer of the closet, in a previous interview with Patch. "I think there is a sense of pride that it exists and a sense of awareness through our building and the campus."

Although the closet is housed in the Freshman Center, all of Dakota supports it through monetary donations and the high school's annual canned food drive.

At its start, the closet was supplied mostly through monetary donations by Dakota staff. Although staff remain the largest donors to the closet, Voss said anyone from the community is welcome to leave non-perishable goods or toiletries at the Freshman Center's front desk.

"Anybody can make a donation," Voss said. She added that the one item the closet needs most is diapers. "The people who seem to use the closet the most are families with young children."

Members of Dakota's Freshmen Council and first-hour representatives regularly give up their lunch hour and work after school to organize the closet.

Although the closet is closed during holiday breaks, Voss said she has worked to provide perishable, holiday goods such as turkeys and hams to families regularly using the closet.

The pantry is usually open during school hours, 7:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Monday-Friday. For questions, call the school at (586) 723-3300.

Another Way to Help Fight Hunger

If driving a donation out to Dakota isn't in your schedule, there is another way for you to help fight hunger in Macomb Township without leaving your computer.

Through Sunday, Nov. 25, Patch is hosting an online food drive for Gleaners Community Food Bank. We're hoping to raise $10,000 to feed families in our area.

Shop Gleaners' virtual grocery shelves. Click to get started!

Follow progress of Patch's fight against hunger. Click to watch donations grow!

How can you help? Click the shopping link above and select items from the virtual grocery shelves. When you check out, be sure to select Macomb Township Patch from the drop down menu to ensure your donation is designated for our community. And don't forget to ask your employer about matching the donation. Gleaners says each dollar donated provides three meals for hungry families.