HEART Locker gets a new home in Kalispell

Departments are shifting locations in Kalispell Public Schools to utilize space and the HEART Locker is one of them.

The HEART Locker opened in April 2014 at a district-owned warehouse on Meridian Road as a place for children and teens who are homeless or in need to obtain free clothes, socks, shoes, undergarments, hygiene products, bedding and school supplies.

With the help of Flathead High School football players, the locker moved Monday to its new location at 514 E. Washington St. in the district’s Auxiliary Services Building gym.

The HEART Locker is part of the Kalispell Homeless Education and Resources Together (HEART) Program that also operates school food pantries at Linderman Education Center and Glacier and Flathead high schools.

Nichole Heyer, Homeless Education liaison for Kalispell and Evergreen schools, expects to have the locker up and running in August. Heyer took over the liaison position in February, replacing Ronda Stevens, who took a grant coordinator position for the district.

Heyer will move her office from Flathead High School into the Auxiliary Services Building, making it possible to have regular hours of operation for the locker for people to get items or drop off donations.

Heyer plans to be available from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. The new location is within walking distance of many neighborhoods and may help more people, according to Heyer.

“In the warehouse on Meridian Court we were kind of tucked back in there — kind of hard to find. This is a much better location,” Heyer said. “There’s also more space.”

Having the building as a central drop-off will be great, Heyer said. Previously, people were asked to leave donations at school offices, but many ended up at the Meridian property and were often rifled through.

Heyer emphasized that the HEART Locker benefits children and teenagers. Heyer said there is a huge need for clothing in those sizes. In May, about 40 students were served. Heyer said she often gets many donations that are adult sizes or styles not suitable for this age group.

“We only keep clothes for children 5 and up. I’m really trying to narrow in on more focused donations for teenagers,” Heyer said. “Any donations that kids may not care for, we give to Second Helpings.”

Heyer said she may go door-to-door seeking donations in teen sizes. Teen-appropriate clothing isn’t the only thing in demand at the locker. Underwear and socks top the list of needs for elementary-aged children.

“The thing I always need is underwear and socks, especially for the little guys and gals,” Heyer said. “There’s a constant need.”

The district transportation department also will move into the Auxiliary Services Building from its current location in a portable building in the Linderman Education Center parking lot.

The move will provide an added classroom for Linderman students. Linderman also will gain additional space when the maintenance department housed in the educational center relocates to the space vacated by the HEART Locker in the Meridian Road warehouse.

Linderman students have used the school stage and other spaces such as the art room, which is not optimal according to Principal Jodie Barber. Barber recently had her title changed from director to principal to reflect the amount and the type of work she does for the school since Bridge and Laser schools merged in 2013.

For more information or to donate to The HEART program, visit kalispellheartprogram.org, email Heyer at heyern@sd5.k12.mt.us or call 751-3630.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.