“It takes so little to make a difference to people,” Julie Roberts, owner of Coastal Maine Popcorn and the mind behind the BRHS Co-Op Closet, said.

The Co-Op Closet is a new program at Boothbay Region High School, run by Roberts with help from her husband Paul Roberts and BRHS principal Dan Welch.

The Co-Op Closet contains a variety of items, from quick snacks to full meal options, hygiene products, laundry detergents and handmade winter clothing such as scarves and mittens. It is free to all students to use when they need it.

Roberts came up with the idea after a seminar held in October 2015 at Spruce Point Inn, about community wellness.

“You know kids are out there who don't have what mine have — food and a warm bed at night,” Roberts said. “But hearing kids talk about it, looking at the stats even in this community, all I could think was ‘We have gotta get these kids some things they need.'”

Roberts started the project on Facebook with the support of Welch. When there is a need, she will post on the page asking if anyone can help. Sometimes the item needed is donated, sometimes people will donate money to equal the cost.

“If there is a need not in the closet, let us know and we'll get it to you,” Roberts said. “We want everyone to feel comfortable using it, with no stigma. Even Jackie (Roberts’ daughter) can go in there as much as anyone else, to grab a quick snack for the bus ride when she plays lacrosse.”

Roberts said she wanted to make a real difference in the community. So far, the reactions of the school community have been completely positive, and kids are using the closet.

Roberts has been handling the shopping, using donations to get the most food and needed items for the money as possible, she said.

It's not just healthy stuff either. “Sometimes kids need junk food too, like oatmeal creams and little packs of fun treats they don't get at home,” Roberts said.

Donations of items are being accepted at Coastal Maine Popcorn. One item needing frequent restocking are feminine hygiene products, which tend to be expensive, so donations of those are especially appreciated right now.

Monetary donations can be sent to BRHS care of Principal Dan Welch with “BRHS Co-Op” in the memo. Roberts has been making weekly visits restocking the closet, and is very pleased it's being used.

“We are incredibly grateful for all donations,” Welch said at a recent school committee meeting. “Julie and Paul (Roberts) have been awesome.”

“The advisers have been great, and I think the word is out about it,” Roberts said. “We want kids to know if they need something they can also ask their adviser to get it for them and they will. There are also black shopping bags in the closet for student use, to pack up a meal for the weekend or for whatever use you need.”

On Dec. 14, Tammy Blackman tagged a Facebook status posted by her son junior Jacob Bishopp which made Roberts smile.

“A huge thank you to the ones responsible for the closet at the school with the snacks and supplies. It's a huge help for long rides to away games and things like that. I really appreciate it as I'm sure other students do as well.”