Media Coverage

We had a great turnout for our first in-person fundraising event in over three years!  It was a fun evening where friends old and new came together to enjoy an evening of food, bidding and theater, and raise much-needed funds to support the ongoing mission of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County to serve children in need. 

Despite rainy weather more than 120 people showed up for the event on Thursday, October 13, 2022, and many others participated through online bidding in our silent auction and giving to our Donate a Wardrobe drive. Cabaret was a huge success, raising over $36,000 for Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County! 

We are enormously grateful to Curtain Call for hosting our event and putting on a fantastic performance of Cabaret, and to all the sponsors and local businesses who generously provided financial support and donated items for our silent auction and prize drawings.  

And most of all, we are grateful to all of our generous donors who attended the event, bid on auction items and made donations. Your support and encouragement make it possible for Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County to continue helping families in need in Fairfield County. 

Once again, our deepest thanks and appreciation to everyone who supported the event in any and all ways!

A fabulous evening was had by all

Photos courtesy of Fairfield County Look Magazine

On November 9th Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County raised $28,000 at the 2nd Annual Cook for Kids Fundraiser, exceeding last year’s fundraising efforts by $8,000. Thanks to the amazing support of our financial and in-kind sponsors, event hosts, and everyone who volunteered and attended, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) will continue its efforts to “clothe a child and change a life”.

Friends and supporters gathered for an entertaining evening as local chefs prepared a tasting feast at Aitoro Appliances in Norwalk CT.  While enjoying the delicious food, guests bid on a selection of silent auction items and tried their luck at winning a variety of door prizes. All proceeds will benefit CTKF’s mission to provide in-crisis and low-income school-age children in Fairfield County with two free wardrobes of school clothing a year, so they can attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success.

CTKF executive director, Elaine Rubinson, spoke about how Clothes To Kids captured her heart when she attended their March 2015 fundraiser in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was motivated by their mission statement and intrigued by the creativity used to implement their mission. How wonderful that children shop with dignity at a scheduled time, and not feel as if they were receiving charity! With the help of dedicated volunteers, Elaine started a new CTK affiliate and Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County was incorporated in November 2015.

Sarah Arnold, a social worker and school-family resource facilitator at Roxbury Elementary School, spoke about the impact that Clothes To Kids has had on the families she has referred to the program. “CTKF is a lifesaver because it provides children with beautiful clothes that give them dignity and a sense of well-being. That’s often the first step to helping families with many other challenges. Plus, it’s a cheerful and fun place to shop. Everyone who goes loves it!”. She also spoke about how poverty can affect families in many ways and that Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County provides these families with a much needed resource.  The effect that clothing has on these children is wonderful to see.

Of course, Cook for Kids would not have been possible without the generous financial support of Wells Fargo Advisors, and the effort and time of all the event hosts and in-kind sponsors for the event! And we are so grateful to Aitoro Appliances for opening the doors to their wonderful showroom to raise much-needed funds in support of local children in crisis. Aitoro is a family-owned appliance and electronics store based in Norwalk, CT that has been serving local customers since 1948.

Silent auction highlights included a weekend donated by Steve Berni at his vacation home at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, a custom men’s blazer donated by Stephen Kempson London, a cocktail party for 20 people donated by Susan Kane Catering, and several other items.

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Chefs and restaurants participating this year included Newbrook Kitchen, Bar Sugo, Susan Kane Catering, Solé Ristorante, Blind Rhino, HAPA Food Truck, A Dash of Salt Catering, The Mumbai Times, RomaNacci Pizza Bar, Osteria Romana, and Fire & Rice. Other event hosts included Kazu Sushi, DiMare Pastry Shop, Donut Crazy, Giovana’s Wine & Spirits, Two Roads Brewing Co., Lagunitas Brewing Company, Samuel Adams, and Stella Artois.

The mission of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County is to provide new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school age children in Fairfield County, Connecticut—free of charge. Without proper clothing, a child can suffer emotionally, physically, and academically. We are committed to ensuring that kids (grades K-12) have quality clothing so they can attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success. What makes the Clothes To Kids experience unique is that they get to choose their own clothing at the CTKF Store! Every eligible child shops for two free wardrobes a year—one for warm weather, and one for cool. Each wardrobe is a full week’s worth of clothing, including new underwear and socks.

Learn more about complete program details or call (203) 533-9846 for more information.

Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small.

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The Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) store opened its doors to the public for a three-day open house event, September 28-30. Guest of honor Stamford Mayor David Martin led the ribbon cutting ceremony as Executive Director Elaine Rubinson proudly looked on. The CTKF team worked tirelessly over the prior four months to reach this highly anticipated moment, and were thrilled to welcome professionals from public schools, social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local companies to the open house.

The work that has gone into building, organizing, and maintaining the CTKF store is a collaborative effort from the organization’s enthusiastic founders, board members, and volunteers, all of whom are dedicated to its mission: to provide new or gently used clothing to children in critical need in grades K-12 in Fairfield County communities, all free of charge.

This summer the team was hard at work securing donations, spreading awareness throughout the community, establishing operational and fundraising plans, and renovating the store in order to create a larger, more functional space. Upon stepping foot inside the newly finished and fully stocked CTKF Store, located in Stamford’s Yerwood Center-Boys & Girls Club, shoppers are greeted with a warm, bright, and welcoming atmosphere. Tidy racks and cubbies are filled with clean, quality clothing. Fun, colorful signage and an easy-to-navigate layout for both youth and young adult clothing, are clear indicators that this space has been well-prepared for shoppers. The “back room” serves as a work space where incoming donations from retail stores, individual donors, and community drives can be washed, sorted, hung up on hangers, placed in bins, or folded.

Elaine Rubinson brings her social service background and expertise to CTKF. She possesses an awareness and understanding that there are circumstances in which it may be financially challenging for parents/guardians to provide new clothing for their children, and is committed to giving families access to well-fitting clothing, free of charge. Over 33% of school age children living in Fairfield County are eligible to shop in the store, which indicates that many families in these communities can benefit from CTKF’s services.

Families and children seeking clothing will find friendly, upbeat and knowledgeable volunteers ready to assist them with their overall shopping experience. CTKF volunteers include high school teens, college students, church and bible study groups, individual community members, local professionals, and those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of youth.

We are always looking for new volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering your time to collect or sort items, host a drive, provide operational support, be a personal shopper, or donate gently used/new clothing, please contact Elaine Rubinson at (203) 533-9846 or info@clothestokidsfairfieldcounty.org.

Please consider joining us as we continue in our efforts to clothe a child, change a life!