Clothe a Child, Change a Life
Learn about the latest happenings at Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County, check out the March 2020 issue of the Clothes To Kids Corner Newsletter!
Click here for our December 2019 newsletter!
Click here to read our September 2019 Newsletter!
During the Kids Helping Kids “Smiles for School” volunteer day, two dozen backpacks filled with essential school supplies were donated to Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County. Just in time, as our back to school preparations are in full gear!
“Smiles For School” is a volunteer project for elementary aged students entering grades 1-5. It was started by a 1st grader, Conor, who wanted to help other kids that could not get their own school supplies. The youth volunteers (and their parents/guardians) gathered to pack the new school bags on Saturday, August 3rd at the CTKF Store in Stamford. The kids decorated pencil cases with their own unique designs, and then packed up new backpacks with needed school supplies for elementary-aged kids who qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Supplies included in the backpacks:
As an organization, Kids Helping Kids talks with their volunteers about how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our world. The ultimate goal for “Smiles For School” was to spread cheer about the upcoming school year! Thank you Team KHK!
Click here to read our May 2019 newsletter!
Click here to read our February 2019 newsletter!
Our Clothes To Kids Corner September 2018 newsletter is absolutely chock full of happenings. As we round out two years of serving children in-need in Fairfield County, we’re in full back to school mode as summer is comes to an end. Take a look!
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.
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.
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.
