When we think about middle school students struggling with attendance, it’s easy to point fingers at parents or the kids themselves and feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the issue. But what if the solution was as simple as providing these children with clean clothes? Whirlpool has tackled what many might dismiss as a minor concern, and the impact has been remarkable.
Last year, Whirlpool launched the Care Counts Program, donating seventeen pairs of washers and dryers to schools in St. Louis and Fairfield, California. Schools then encouraged students with attendance issues to bring their laundry while they attended classes. The results were nothing short of incredible: over 90% of the participating students saw an increase in their attendance, at-risk students attended nearly two additional weeks of school, and each child managed to complete around 50 loads of laundry at school. This year, Whirlpool plans to expand the initiative to twenty more schools across five districts.
While issues like economic disparity and systemic racism often overshadow seemingly minor matters like laundry, for a child who already faces numerous challenges, having clean clothes can significantly affect their willingness to face their peers.
Understanding the Issue
Meet Dr. Emily Parker, the former principal of Maple Grove Elementary in St. Louis. While conversing with parents, she discovered that many had a hard time affording laundry services or finding time to travel to laundromats. She reached out to Whirlpool, who conducted research and found that one in five students in the U.S. struggle to find clean clothes to wear to school.
In a conversation with Today Parents, a seventh-grade teacher named Jamie Collins from Fairfield shared, “One student had completely withdrawn from school… After the program started, he became excited about coming to class and began engaging actively. He didn’t feel like an outsider anymore.”
Too often, children with attendance issues are labeled as “troubled” or “lazy.” Many adults, who may not understand the difficulty of something as simple as laundry, often overlook the struggles these kids face. Parents focusing on keeping their families fed and safe sometimes have to forego less critical tasks, like a lengthy trip to the laundromat.
Making a Difference
Kudos to Dr. Parker and Whirlpool for taking the time to understand the issue and providing a solution that helps boost these kids’ confidence to attend school. For more insights on similar topics, check out our other blog posts, including the one about home insemination kits, which can provide valuable information for those exploring parenthood.
In summary, Whirlpool’s initiative has showcased how addressing basic needs can lead to significant improvements in student attendance. By offering laundry facilities, they are not just cleaning clothes—they’re helping to foster a more conducive learning environment for children who need it most.