SUNRISE, Fla. — As students across Broward County return to classrooms after winter break, some families are facing a familiar challenge: the cost of school uniforms.

At Horizon Elementary School in Sunrise, that burden is being eased thanks to a local Girl Scout who turned a personal struggle into a community solution.

“My school counselor, Mrs. Shine, brought this initiative to me, and we thought it would be a great idea,” said Thaddeus Smith, principal of Horizon Elementary.

With inflation and rising costs squeezing household budgets, buying new uniforms can be difficult for families with growing children. For many students, a new semester typically means new khakis and polo shirts, expenses that can add up quickly.

That’s where Gracie Canedy comes in.

Canedy, a Sunrise student and longtime Girl Scout, has been involved in scouting since age 5. She participates as a Juliet, meaning she works independently rather than as part of a troop.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award — the organization’s highest honor — Canedy was required to design a project that creates lasting change in the community.

“I knew it had to be something that would still be here after I leave,” Canedy said.

Drawing from her family’s experience with thrifting and stretching a budget, Canedy launched what she calls the “Compassion Closet,” a free uniform closet housed at Horizon Elementary.

“A struggle I thought of from when I was a kid was accessing uniforms,” she said. “They can be very expensive — 20, 25 bucks a pair — and the average kid needs about three. And when they’re little, they grow rapidly.”

The closet is stocked with racks of khaki pants and solid-color polo shirts. Students can take what they need at no cost. Every piece has been donated, sorted and organized by Canedy herself.

Since launching the project, Canedy has already helped at least 16 South Florida families, with dozens more uniforms ready to be distributed as demand grows.

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