Student Success Stores offer clothing and supplies for Columbus teens

At 14 central Ohio middle schools, teens whose families can't afford stylish backpacks, hair products or new clothes have been able to focus on their classes instead of those other things .

“It sounds a little silly, but if you think about being 13…,” said Nicole Hébert-Ford, a former teacher, soon-to-be school counselor and co-founder of Student Success Stores. she likes to remind people of that. “We are able to limit these small problems.”

Since its debut at Champion Middle School, Columbus Global Academy and Mifflin Middle School in 2017, Student Success Stores have opened more branches in Columbus City and Whitehall City school buildings with higher percentages of children living in poverty.