Providing essential hygienic resources with Terry’s Locker

For some students, feeing your best can make a big difference on your ability to learn in the classroom. For kids without access to clean clothes or regular laundry services, they may struggle with their confidence and in some cases, be the subject of bullying.

“When you're worried about feeling like your body's not clean, your clothes are not clean,” said Jennifer Hamilton, principal at Mount Vernon Community School, “that can really impact your ability to function at school and learn.”

That’s why Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin launched Terry’s Locker, which aims to provide students with essential hygienic resources, including fully stocked laundry facilities and a variety of laundry products inside schools. Working with UnitedHealthcare, the program has now grown across the Washington, D.C. area to more schools in need.

Mount Vernon Community School is one of three schools in the area that have recently received a locker room equipped with high-efficiency washers and dryers, and fully stocked with laundry products.

Mount Vernon is the largest elementary school in the district, with over 900 students — half of whom qualify for free and reduced lunches. The school staff often works together to help provide basic needs like food assistance, warm clothes and now -- the ability to keep those clothes clean.

“I see the locker room as a piece of that larger network or safety net that we provide at school for our families, lifting that burden off our families makes them better able to support their children,” Jennifer said. “It makes us have kids who feel prepared and ready to learn for school and they have everything they need to be successful at school.”

Staff at the schools have access to the locker room during the school day to help students wash clothes. The laundry rooms are also available to families after hours, to help those who don’t have access to laundry facilities in their apartments or homes.

Terry said he’s proud to be able to give back to the community.

“When my playing days are over, I hope somebody can look back and say he did things the right way. He's a great person. He cared deeply about his community,” he said.

Terry’s Locker also has laundry facilities in McKinley Middle School and Maymont Preschool. Terry said he hopes to continue to work with UnitedHealthcare to expand the program.

“It helps us serve our students and families in ways that folks probably don't even imagine,” Jennifer said. “We're just very appreciative of that gift, knowing that it will be something that we use for years and years and years to come.”