Courtesy of Corina Gonzalez-Molina ’16
Convent of the Sacred Heart junior Corina Gonzalez-Molina possesses a passion for fashion, which influences not only her style, but also her community. In 2012, Corina created her own charity, Corina’s Closet, which provides clothing and necessities for children and teenage girls who live in the underprivileged Bronx, NY communities.
In addition to completing hundreds of hours of community service, Corina has also improved and continues to change the lives of hundreds of girls. In 2013, the Sacred Heart administration awarded Corina with the Norma McGarry Community Service Award from Sacred Heart for completing over 400 hours of service through her work with Corina’s Closet.
“I started Corina’s Closet because I wanted to give girls my age from various backgrounds the ability to wear nice clothing and feel confident no matter what is going on at their home,” Corina said.
Corina’s Closet is operated through Part of The Solution (POTS), a one-stop shop that assists individuals living in poverty on their journeys from crisis to stability and ultimately, self-sufficiency. POTS’s mission is to be a loving community in the Bronx that nourishes the basic needs of all who come to its door, according to potsbronx.org.
The charity’s volunteers are continually collecting various items, including clothing for all ages and sizes, jewelry, shoes, toys, house items and other necessities POTS provides for those in need.
Although Corina’s Closet was originally intended to provide donated clothing for teenage girls, as the need for other items developed, the organization’s number of collected items increased. They now donate a variety of items to POTS, including bed sheets and baby clothing.
POTS provides a number of necessities for those in need. In just one visit to POTS, guests can enjoy a complimentary hot, healthful meal in the Community Dining Room, shop in the Food Pantry or Clothing Closet, receive a haircut, take a hot shower, and speak with a case manager or lawyer. Their goal is for every interaction to be based on mutual respect and compassion, according to idealist.org.
Sophomore Ellen Pucel and former Sacred Heart student Katie Miller created a documentary, Inside P.O.T.S, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the organization. The film won first place for the documentary category at the sixth annual Convent of the Sacred Heart Film Festival.
Students interested in volunteering with Corina’s Closet or donating clothing can email Corina at [email protected]. Additionally, students interested in volunteering at POTS can register online to help serve meals in the Community Dining Room or provide one-on-one tutoring for children in the POTS Family Club.
– Holly Roth, Staff Writer
King Street Chronicle
King Street Chronicle
Charity from the heart – Corina's Closet
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