Sullivan East's 'SWAG' Shop a project of group supporting school

BLUFF CITY — Sullivan East High School has a PAC.No, it's not a political action committee but rather a group helping provide clothing and other items to students and to improve the campus for students, staff, faculty, alumni and the general public.The Patriot P.A.C., a non-profit group with an acronym that stands for Patriots, Alumni and Community Inc.The group of alumni, parents and community members is dedicated to providing help for the students of East High, according to seven-year Principal Andy Hare. He said the group is positive resource to help aid and support their high school experience. Originally the group held a meeting every semester to discuss the vision of Sullivan East High and progress in accomplishing those goals.GROUP BECOMES NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITYThis summer members of the community wanted to make the next step in the overall vision of the school community and officially organize an informal group loosely formed in the fall of 2017. Amy and Mark Bartley spearheaded the efforts to acquire 501c3 status and become a nonprofit organization. The married couple, both 1991 graduates of East, helped start the group and then spearheaded it into a a formal not-for-profit group. Mark Bartley, a certified public accountant, did the paperwork to get the not-for-profit status and is its treasurer.Since the group's work began in late July, the Patriot P.A.C. has started several campus beautification projects including removing the damaged picnic area being replaced with a brand new picnic area for the students and the soon to be added benches throughout the campus for students and members of the community to enjoy.Amy Bartley, president of the group, said the Lowe's on Volunteer Parkway in Bristol donated five picnic tables with the help of manager Frank Delorete, an East graduate, while career technical students assembled and painted the tables.The store also donated a fence cover for a fence surrounding a sewer area, also installed by students, and donated mulch for the flag pole area that special education students installed after pulling weeds there.Bartley said the benches donated by community member will be installed four at the flag pole, four in the front of the building and one near by gym.In addition, they provide monthly snacks and goodies for the faculty and staff of the school. SWAG SHOP OPENSHare said Patriot P.A.C. is always looking for ways to help their school and community and in their discussions created the Patriot Apparel That's Swag or sometimes called the "SWAG" Shop. "This store is not a store that takes money for their products," Hare said. "No, everything is free. From designer jeans, named brand clothing, purses, new shoes, school supplies and other basic school needs for teenagers are decoratively on display and made available to the students."Bartley said students donate to the store, as well as the public and area businesses. She said some students don't have access to a change of clothing or even running water."We want them to have a shopping experience," Bartley said of available inventory that has included Nike shirts and Hey Dude shoes. She said area churches and other groups are providing personal hygiene items, as well as belts, socks, shoes, new underwear and body wipes, as needed by students. She said some students were hesitant to take items from the store but said their friends have helped encourage them to do so. She said one student found a dress there so she could attend a recent semi-formal dance at the school.The store is open during lunch Monday, Wednesday and Friday and available to all East High students. Items in the shop are either new or very slightly used and provided by individuals, businesses and retail stores. Hare said the group is grassroots vision that is successful, helpful and positive with the shop and other projects."To this point in the year it is estimated that approximately. 25% of the school has shopped in the "SWAG Shop" and more people are wanting to see what's new every other day," Hare said. "These welcomed additions to our campus have sparked a sense of community and pride that I have never seen."SOUND SYSTEM AND PAVILION PLANNEDBartley said the group also has helped get a new sound for the gym and is looking for ways to get a new one for the little theater, as well as get work done on the tennis courts and an alumni picnic pavilion, golf carts for custodians and other school employees and moving a fence behind the football press box so mowing, painting and maintenance can be done there."It's hard to do this if you're not a not-for-profit group," Bartley said. She said the East Class of 1969, the first to gradate from the school, is challenging all other classes to donate toward the alumni picnic pavilion, which would be used for class reunions as well as current students.Donations can go to Patriot P.A.C., 4180 Weaver Pike, Bluff City TN 37628 or through PayPal at sullivaneastpatriottpac@gmail.com. The group also is on Facebook and Instagram.