‘The Give Back’ Looks To Instill Confidence In Warsaw Middle School Girls
April 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
‘The Give Back’ Looks To Instill Confidence In Warsaw Middle School Girls
By Jackie [email protected]
Amy Mencarelli, owner of AM Styling, recently gave $100 gift cards to Kohl’s and a styling session with her to several students at Edgewood and Lakeview middle schools through an event called “The Give Back.”
“The idea started with me wanting to buy new clothes for a student, and I thought why go on a small scale, why not go on a big scale, and let’s bring the community into it,” Mencarelli said.
Mencarelli said dressing confidently can really change the trajectory of your life.
“I want to encourage girls to think about what they want to do and what they want to be when they grow up because middle school can be tough where (students) think they’re in this bubble,” Mencarelli said, noting she wanted middle school students to know that people are there and “you’re going to get past it.”
In choosing the students, she said there was an application that all the female students at the two schools were given to complete. The principals sent out an announcement that students could apply, and the principal from each school chose the winning students.
Mencarelli said she believes middle school students tend to struggle the most with their style, so that’s why she’s targeted that age group.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t have a lot,” Mencarelli said.
“I think in middle school, it’s easy to get into the slump of a hoodie and jeans,” she said, but maybe the student isn’t like that inside.
“The Give Back” allows the students to find some clothes to help students express themselves.
All the girls were taken to Kohl’s before the stay-at-home order in Indiana to pick out an outfit, or more depending on what clothes were picked out, with their $100 gift card.
To get the money for the first “The Give Back,” there were several sponsors including MudLOVE, Enpac and BeLOVE.
However, Mencarelli said she is not done with giving back in this way.
“I have been accepting donations to be able to give gift cards to other girls at Edgewood and Lakeview who were not able to participate in ‘The Give Back.’ One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated back to Edgewood and Lakeview Middle School female students,” Mencarelli said.
Monetary donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/2GGxDCV.
“I applied to be a part of this Give Back because I knew it had something to do with fashion and styling. At first, I didn’t know the entire subject of the event, but I soon learned that it was so much more, and had such a big message behind it,” said eighth-grade student Sophia Seymour.
Seventh-grader Alaina Stamper said she applied because she wanted to have fun going shopping and she didn’t have any good clothes for school.
“I applied to be a part of ‘The Give Back’ because I wanted the experience and I figured a stylist could help me find my style,” said eighth-grade student Graciela Cobaxin.
Seventh-grade student Anna Robertson said she applied for “The Give Back” because she thought it would be fun and a good learning event.
“I applied for ‘The Give Back’ event because I don’t really like to shop, and I thought it would be different to shop with someone who could pick out clothes for me that I might like,” said Edgewood seventh-grader Kylah Cook.
Eighth-grader Layla Barker said she applied because it sounded like a great opportunity to find her style.
“I got an email from my principal talking about the event and I was intrigued. I talked to a group a friends about it, but they weren’t really interested in it,” said Edgewood eighth-grader Ebonie Miller.
Eighth-grader Kylie Feeney said she applied to show girls they can be confident in what they love to wear.
“The outfits I picked out were a dark blue Nike sweatshirt, a gray T-shirt, a dark gray ‘Lilo and Stitch’ shirt that has Stitch on it, a light gray Mickey Mouse T-shirt, dark blue jeans that match all shirts, and a gold necklace and earrings to go with the outfits,” said Cobaxin, noting she thinks the clothes will remind me to always be myself and to be happy with who I am.”
Barker said she chose a simple grey sweater and a black, flowy skirt, black overalls, a Ferris Bueller T-shirt and a red flannel, dark red jeans with a black stripe running down the side and dark green jacket.
“Even in the short few days I’ve had these clothes, they already affect me. I feel more confident when in them, which is always a great thing, and when I feel confident, nothings holding me back from what I want to do,” she said.
Feeny said the outfit she chose was an expression of who she is because she loves dressing up and looking cute.
Miller said she got a pair of recycled jeans with fake rips, a shirt with “Seinfeld” on it, a shirt with the Dundee Mifflin logo, a jacket and earrings.
“When I put the outfit on, I didn’t think it would look good together, but it looked really great. So I hope that this will be the start to an upgraded wardrobe.”
Stamper said she chose a pair of black ripped jeans and a yellow and black stripped shirt.
“I didn’t have a style and it’s kind of showing me what I can buy,” she said.
Amy Mencarelli, owner of AM Styling, recently gave $100 gift cards to Kohl’s and a styling session with her to several students at Edgewood and Lakeview middle schools through an event called “The Give Back.”
“The idea started with me wanting to buy new clothes for a student, and I thought why go on a small scale, why not go on a big scale, and let’s bring the community into it,” Mencarelli said.
Mencarelli said dressing confidently can really change the trajectory of your life.
“I want to encourage girls to think about what they want to do and what they want to be when they grow up because middle school can be tough where (students) think they’re in this bubble,” Mencarelli said, noting she wanted middle school students to know that people are there and “you’re going to get past it.”
In choosing the students, she said there was an application that all the female students at the two schools were given to complete. The principals sent out an announcement that students could apply, and the principal from each school chose the winning students.
Mencarelli said she believes middle school students tend to struggle the most with their style, so that’s why she’s targeted that age group.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t have a lot,” Mencarelli said.
“I think in middle school, it’s easy to get into the slump of a hoodie and jeans,” she said, but maybe the student isn’t like that inside.
“The Give Back” allows the students to find some clothes to help students express themselves.
All the girls were taken to Kohl’s before the stay-at-home order in Indiana to pick out an outfit, or more depending on what clothes were picked out, with their $100 gift card.
To get the money for the first “The Give Back,” there were several sponsors including MudLOVE, Enpac and BeLOVE.
However, Mencarelli said she is not done with giving back in this way.
“I have been accepting donations to be able to give gift cards to other girls at Edgewood and Lakeview who were not able to participate in ‘The Give Back.’ One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated back to Edgewood and Lakeview Middle School female students,” Mencarelli said.
Monetary donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/2GGxDCV.
“I applied to be a part of this Give Back because I knew it had something to do with fashion and styling. At first, I didn’t know the entire subject of the event, but I soon learned that it was so much more, and had such a big message behind it,” said eighth-grade student Sophia Seymour.
Seventh-grader Alaina Stamper said she applied because she wanted to have fun going shopping and she didn’t have any good clothes for school.
“I applied to be a part of ‘The Give Back’ because I wanted the experience and I figured a stylist could help me find my style,” said eighth-grade student Graciela Cobaxin.
Seventh-grade student Anna Robertson said she applied for “The Give Back” because she thought it would be fun and a good learning event.
“I applied for ‘The Give Back’ event because I don’t really like to shop, and I thought it would be different to shop with someone who could pick out clothes for me that I might like,” said Edgewood seventh-grader Kylah Cook.
Eighth-grader Layla Barker said she applied because it sounded like a great opportunity to find her style.
“I got an email from my principal talking about the event and I was intrigued. I talked to a group a friends about it, but they weren’t really interested in it,” said Edgewood eighth-grader Ebonie Miller.
Eighth-grader Kylie Feeney said she applied to show girls they can be confident in what they love to wear.
“The outfits I picked out were a dark blue Nike sweatshirt, a gray T-shirt, a dark gray ‘Lilo and Stitch’ shirt that has Stitch on it, a light gray Mickey Mouse T-shirt, dark blue jeans that match all shirts, and a gold necklace and earrings to go with the outfits,” said Cobaxin, noting she thinks the clothes will remind me to always be myself and to be happy with who I am.”
Barker said she chose a simple grey sweater and a black, flowy skirt, black overalls, a Ferris Bueller T-shirt and a red flannel, dark red jeans with a black stripe running down the side and dark green jacket.
“Even in the short few days I’ve had these clothes, they already affect me. I feel more confident when in them, which is always a great thing, and when I feel confident, nothings holding me back from what I want to do,” she said.
Feeny said the outfit she chose was an expression of who she is because she loves dressing up and looking cute.
Miller said she got a pair of recycled jeans with fake rips, a shirt with “Seinfeld” on it, a shirt with the Dundee Mifflin logo, a jacket and earrings.
“When I put the outfit on, I didn’t think it would look good together, but it looked really great. So I hope that this will be the start to an upgraded wardrobe.”
Stamper said she chose a pair of black ripped jeans and a yellow and black stripped shirt.
“I didn’t have a style and it’s kind of showing me what I can buy,” she said.
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