How Fall River’s Teen Closet Helps Unaccompanied Youth Maintain Dignity

Roughly one in 20 youth in the Greater Fall River area "couch surf" and rely on their guidance counselors for basic hygiene items throughout the school year. While "couch surfing" may be a fun name, not knowing where you'll sleep each night or having to have extended "sleepovers" at friends' homes is not a fun situation to be in, not to mention for someone already dealing with the "awkward teenage years."

In order to better support the students in Greater Fall River, United Way of Greater Fall River is working to bring a Restart Teen Closet full of supplies to each high school and middle school in Greater Fall River. That’s why Fun 107 is teaming up with the UWGFR and NBCU for the Teen Closet Drive. We’re looking for your help in collecting teen-friendly hygiene products, or the gift cards to purchase them, so all local teens have what they need to start their day right.

The Teen Closet drive helps provide teen-friendly toiletry items to Greater Fall River youth in need. The goal is to provide the products they need and the dignity to use the same hygiene items as their friends do. Meg Rogers is the Communications Coordinator at United Way of Greater Fall River. She explained why the Teen Closet is necessary within the City of Fall River.

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“Students who couch surf fly under the radar,” Rogers said. “They want to escape the situation they’re in but they don’t want to enter into ‘the system.’ Having the Teen Closet housed at Greater Fall River RE-CREATION with the Family Resource Center makes it accessible to youth or teachers who need supplies for their students, and also provides a safe space with resources to help those students.”

Having a "Teen Closet" will help youth across the city have access to the basic items they need while navigating complicated housing circumstances. You can get involved with this city-wide effort to give unaccompanied youth their dignity during trying times.

There are plenty of items needed to stock the closet, including:

• 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioners
• dry shampoo
• body wash
• deodorants for both genders
• feminine products
• body sprays for both genders
• hair elastics
• new socks and underwear for both genders
• snacks

Support the Restart Teen Closet

Help stock the Restart Teen Closet by purchasing items from the Amazon Wish List or by donating to their Annual Campaign. All donations will stay local and go directly to the Restart Teen Closet. Together, we can help greater Fall River teens maintain their hygiene and dignity while they continue their education. Join FUN 107 along with NBCU for the Teen Closet Drive to help support couch-surfing teens on the SouthCoast.