Author: LynnB

Team CTKF will ride the 2019 TD Five Boro Bike Tour!

LynnB Events
RIde for Team CTKF 2019 TD Five Boro Bike Tour

For the first time, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County will participate as a charity partner in the 2019 TD Five Boro Bike Tour. On May 5, 2019, members of the inaugural Team CTKF will join 32,000 cyclists from all walks of life and representing every state in the nation and dozens of countries around the world. From lower Manhattan, they will ride 40 miles through the five boroughs of New York City on car-free streets, including over the Queensboro and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridges.

The world’s largest charitable bike tour

We are thrilled to be part of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour this year. The proceeds from this popular bucket-list event go toward Bike New York€™s free bike education programs, and many riders will also participate on behalf of one of dozens of charity partners. That’s us, Team CTKF! Bike New York’s bike education program has grown to become the largest of its kind in the country, this year alone, more than 26,000 kids and adults in all five boroughs learned bike skills.

To learn more about the Tour, visit Bike New York.

There’s nothing on Earth quite like riding 40 miles through car-free New York City streets!

JJoin our team!

As a member of our team, your fundraising efforts provide quality clothing for children in-need in Fairfield County, Connecticut, so they can attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success. Riding for Team CTKF also provides some great perks! With Charity Rider status you’ll have guaranteed entry to the Tour, preferred start at the top of the Tour, special access to dedicated charity rider areas, and pre- and post-ride food. Team CTKF riders will also receive customized apparel and personalized fundraising tools.

Spots are limited. Learn more about joining Team CTKF!

Crowdfunding new bathing suits for kids in need in Fairfield County

LynnB Events

Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) is hoping to raise approximately $1500.00 this summer to purchase new bathing suits for kids using the newly renovated swimming pool located inside the Yerwood Center-Boys & Girls Club and for those eligible to shop at CTKF.

Last year a decision was made to conduct a clothing drive for new bathing suits given that kids feel embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed wearing suits that are torn, stained, and do not fit properly. Purchasing new bathing suits is certainly not a priority on a limited budget. Kids will forego going swimming and taking swimming lessons if they feel that the suit they are wearing does not look good on them.

CTKF’s decision to purchase new suits was a huge success. CTKF provided approximately 86 new bathing suits last year. We would love to double that total. Though a new suit is an accessory, the psychological value a new bathing suit provides to a child is immeasurable. Kids with new suits are eager to acquire swimming skills and eager to go to the beach because they do not feel different from their peers, they fit in.

This project will raise the funds needed to cover the costs to purchase:

  • 172 bathing suits
  • at approximately $8 – $10 each

for young boys and girls, because every child deserves an opportunity to learn to swim and to enjoy the summer months.

Cost to purchase 172 new bathing suits for local children: $1,500

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Your entire donation made on The Impact Vine is tax-deductible.

New logo, new look, our purpose stays the same

LynnB General

You are going to see a lot of purple moving forward at Clothes To Kids. It’s because we’re rolling out our new logo. It’s a purple coat.

Why purple? Why a coat? The story goes like this…

On a rare, cold Florida morning, Marie McClung (Co-Founder of Clothes To Kids) got a call from her sister. She had a little girl in her classroom who wouldn’t be able to go outside for gym class without a jacket. Marie ran to the store and bought a purple coat in just the right size. When she dropped off the coat Marie was touched by the deep gratitude of this little girl, who looked up at her smiling big brown eyes and offered a huge hug!

In spring 2002 Marie was telling the story of the little girl and the purple coat to Jode Eye (CTK’s other Co-Founder). It sounded all too familiar to Jode, who had many students without adequate clothing, they even lacked socks and underwear. Together, Jode and Marie were determined that every child should have a coat to wear at recess, and school clothing so that they could go to school and focus on learning. Clothes To Kids was born.

Bringing the CTK vision to Fairfield County

Clothes To Kids has come a long way since that first purple coat. Over the years multiple CTK affiliates have opened around the country, inspired by the wonderful work being done by the founders. Each one dedicated to bringing happiness and improved self esteem, and of course quality school clothing, to low income and in crisis school-age children in their own local communities.

As you may already know, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County is a proud affiliate! In fall 2015, Executive Director Elaine Rubinson began mobilizing volunteers and we welcomed our first shoppers to the CTK of Fairfield County store in October 2016.

We are excited to share this story about the purple coat and why its meaning is a symbol of our mission, along with our tagline, Clothe a Kid, Change a Life.

Welcoming two new board members

LynnB Volunteering

I want to officially welcome Vicki Puciato and Mary Boehlert to the Board of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF). It is very exciting to have the vision of CTKF confirmed by the interests of others. After all, we are only as good as the board members and volunteers who move the organization forward to fulfill our mission. It is one thing for me to think that CTKF is amazing in how it distributes clothing and improves the overall functioning of a family and the academic achievement of those eligible for our services, but to have others see the organization through the same lens is a wonderful experience.

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Both Vicki and Mary were inspired by our vision that every school age child deserves quality clothing so that he or she may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success. Vicki first expressed an interest when she understood that CTKF is unique in how we provide clothing to the kids eligible for our services. She became very excited when she learned that the children make an appointment to shop with a personal shopper! Mary first became interested when she read an article in the Connecticut Bar Association magazine that was published prior to the actual opening of our CTKF Store. Mary has young children and understands first-hand the importance of clothing in a child’s development, and the cost of providing kids with the clothing they desire.

While it  is very difficult to ascertain the composition of a good board, I think for a new non-profit CTKF has been quite successful. Our board works exceedingly well to make certain the decisions made are the best for those we serve and overall, for CTKF. The board is comprised of individuals who really care about children, and care about helping them grow into the best people they can become. We all remember what life was like growing up and the difficulties we encountered. The diversity of our board members will greatly enhance the future direction of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County.

-Elaine Rubinson, Executive Director

Thank you to our amazing donors on Fairfield County Giving Day 2018

LynnB Events
Your donations during FC Giving Day will help kids in need in Fairfield County CT

You gave…we thank you!

With your help we raised $7,306 during Fairfield County Giving Day, the incredible 24-hour giving event on March 1, 2018. And, we are thrilled to report that we surpassed the amount we raised last year!

To all of our amazing donors, thank you for continuing your support of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County and for making a generous gift during Giving Day.

As you know, we are committed to providing new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school age children in Fairfield County, Connecticut, free of charge. We envision a community in which every school age child has quality clothing so that he or she may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success.

Your gifts will help kids in need

Over the next year, your donations will keep the CTKF Store well-stocked with a great selection of school clothing, shoes, and accessories, as we continue to expand our reach and serve more kids and families in need. We provide two wardrobes per year for eligible children in grades K-12, which requires the full spectrum of sizes, from kids to adult sizes. And, we can never have enough new underwear and socks on hand!

Kids and families in need shop for school clothing at Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County

In just 24 hours, 13,137 donors gave $1,400,887 to 415 nonprofits in Fairfield County!

Clearly the spirit of philanthropy is strong in our community. Fairfield County Giving Day is a 24-hour giving event where donors from around the region (and beyond) come together to and make a powerful, collective impact by supporting their favorite local nonprofits. 24 hours to give where you live!

Again, we are so thankful for your support during Giving Day. It not only helped us raise crucial funding, but also increased awareness about our important work. Your ongoing investment in our mission is truly valued.