On Friday, October 19, The Mayor’s Office of Education and partners celebrated the grand opening of the Samuel Gompers School’s Community Closet and Sensory Room, two new spaces which will provide resources for students and families at the school.

“This Community Closet, and the Sensory Room, are proof of what happens when you bring [partnerships] together with a clear focus on helping the community,” said Rennie Parker, Community School Coordinator for Gompers.

The Community Closet will give students and parents access to free clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, nonperishable food items, and more.

“I’m proud of this room, and I know it’s going to do wonders for the school community,” said Rennie.

The Community Closet is made possible through donations from United Parents for Successful Children, the Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, the Jack & Jill Foundation, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sensory Room will provide all students a calming space and was designed with students with autism in mind. The Sensory Room was made possible through grants provided by Wells Fargo and A-Team, a local nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of Autism.

Ginny McGill, who is a Gompers parent and the founder of A-Team, delivered remarks before the room’s official opening. “We look forward to growing a more inclusive world, starting right here,” she said.

“When my son was diagnosed with Autism, the fight or flight response kicked in. Flight would’ve meant moving to the suburbs and going to a different school. But I love Gompers, I love Wynnefield and I love our community. My husband and I decided to make this our school and to bring together our village and make this work for us. And seeing this today, I know we made the right choice.”

Gompers is one of Philadelphia’s 12 designated Community Schools, which provide added school-based programs and services to students and families. The Community Schools initiative is supported by the Mayor’s Office of Education and funded by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax.