Teacher Dubbed 'Carey Poppins' as She Shares Viral Solution for Students in Need of Everyday Essentials (Exclusive)

Carey Arensberg, a social emotional behavior specialist from Mobile, Alabama, began her care closet in 2022

• Following an interaction with a student in need of hair care products in 2020, educator Carey Arensberg began a care closet stocked with necessities for her students.

• An interior designer even reached out to help her organize the space, which she fills via donations

• She hopes to inspire other educators to do something similar for their students, no matter how big or small

In 2020, Carey Arensberg, a social emotional behavior specialist from Mobile, Alabama, noticed a student at her school wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, concealing everything except his eyes. Concerned, she asked him why he kept his hood up and requested that he remove it. When he refused, Arensberg decided to sit down with him to better understand the situation.

The student revealed he was embarrassed about his unkempt hair. Arensberg asked if there was anything she could do to help, and the student mentioned he needed hair products, which she didn’t have at the time. So, Arensberg placed a Target grocery order for the student, letting him choose the supplies he needed.

"The minute we sat together and took care of his hair, he took his hood down and was ready to go for the day," Arensberg tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I thought, 'What else can I provide in my classroom to help kids feel more comfortable and less self-conscious?' "

Now, four years later, Arensberg has established a care closet in her classroom, stocked with essentials to support her students' needs while they are at school. Basic items include deodorant, chapstick, feminine products, lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste, plus extra shoelaces, fingernail clippers and socks.

Most of the items are acquired through donations, but if she’s ever in a pinch, Arensberg says she’ll buy them herself.

"Things are so expensive. If a student needs something and they can't get it elsewhere, they come to me, and we figure out a way to get it," Arensberg says. "The new nickname at this school for me is Mrs. Carey Poppins. When the older kids learned about all the things I have, they were amazed and said, 'Are you Mary Poppins?' One of the kids then said, 'No, she’s Carey Poppins.' "

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At the beginning of the school year, Arensberg gives her students a tour of her space and shows them the closet. During back-to-school night, she does the same for the parents. "Everyone has been so appreciative," she says.

"Before I open up the closet to the students, we have a thorough lesson on the difference between a want and a need," she continues. "I explain that this is our learning community and environment. If we take things we don’t truly need, then those who do need them won’t have access. I always tell them, 'I’ll never say no if you have a real need, but you need to be honest about whether it’s a need or just a want.' "

"It’s amazing how receptive kids are to this concept," she adds. "People assume that kids would exploit such a resource, but I don’t believe that. If you present it the right way, kids are inherently good and will look out for their peers."

The closet system was created with the help of a kind woman named Sarah, who reached out to Arensberg on Instagram. Sarah, an interior designer, saw some of Arensberg’s early videos in which she mentioned that while she didn’t have fancy containers or a beautifully organized space, she had resources for the kids. Sarah offered to help design a closet system that would be functional for the students and easy for Arensberg to navigate.

"It has been such a huge blessing," Arensberg says.

"When I first started, I was often asked how I afford to maintain and stock the care closet," she continues. "My initial approach was to create an Amazon Wishlist. I shared it with friends and family and asked them to spread the word via email or social media. I also reached out to local businesses, asking if they would be interested in supporting our school or this mission. Over time, items on the list were gradually purchased. I continued by contacting a few churches and organizations, asking if they could organize a sock drive or similar support."

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Since creating the care closet, Arensberg has shared about its evolution online. She's garnered more than 480,000 followers on TikTok, with many of her videos about the closet attracting upwards of 1 million likes.

Through her videos, she hopes to reiterate that there are needs within all communities, regardless of their collective economic status. And it’s not just about financial support: it’s about showing kids that their teacher cares enough to ensure they’re comfortable and supported in school.

"I’ve received comments in the past suggesting that kids in certain schools, particularly those from affluent neighborhoods, don’t need resources like this because their families are well-off," she says. "However, I’ve always been adamant about how poverty comes in many forms. While poverty can be financial, it can also be emotional. You can have all the money in the world but still be emotionally impoverished if your needs aren’t met in other ways."

"I always say to start small," the educator continues, offering words of advice to other teachers looking to start their own care closets. "Begin with what you can manage and focus on understanding the specific needs within your community. Don’t try to do too much all at once. Let the kids know about the support system you’re offering and be consistent in showing them that support. Whether it’s a closet, a drawer or even just a Tupperware container, every bit helps."

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