Nov. 10, 2023-- High School North held a Grand Opening Nov. 8 for The Captain's Closet free thrift store. The store is the result of a collaboration between Matthew DeRiggi and the student store he helps operate; Jacqueline Powell and her community-based instruction students; Kodi Sohl and her media center student volunteers and CAP students; and the generous staff and students who have donated items.

The Captain's Closet provides free clothing, shoes, hygiene products, coats, gloves and more to all HSN students.

"Mrs. Powell's students have worked incredibly hard to organize, clean, hang and perfect the displays in the store," said Sohl.

The community-based instruction students learn valuable work readiness skills in the process of preparing and maintaining the store.

"It has been a great opportunity for my students to learn relevant job skills," said Powell. "We have worked really hard to get here."

The store has been in the works for a couple of years and has moved locations a few times before finding its permanent home in the Mariner Media Center.

"Thanks to the work of Mrs. Sohl and the media center volunteers and CAP students, and Mrs. Powell and her classes, the Captain's Closet is everything I envisioned it could be," said DeRiggi, who spearheaded the project and coordinated donations of clothing and display racks.

The Captain's Closet and Mariner Media Center are open every school day from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.