Thank you for your support in 2018! Click here to read our December 2018 newsletter.
Two Years of Serving Children — Clothes To Kids Corner | September 2018 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!
Crowdfunding new bathing suits for kids in need in Fairfield County
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
Your entire donation made on The Impact Vine is tax-deductible.
Clothes To Kids Corner | June 2018 Newsletter
Please enjoy the June 2018 issue of Clothes To Kids Corner, the newsletter of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County.
Highlights:
- Improvements to the store make shopping easier
- Donor spotlight
- New logo, new look…the story of the purple coat
- Save the Date! 3rd Annual Cook for Kids Fundraiser, October 4, 2018
New logo, new look, our purpose stays the same
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
I want to officially welcome Vicki Puciato and Mary Boehlert to the Board of Directors for 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.
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
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!
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.
Clothes To Kids Corner | February 2018 Newsletter
Please enjoy the February 2018 issue of Clothes To Kids Corner, the newsletter of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County.
Join us on March 1, 2018 and donate on Fairfield County Giving Day…24 hours to give where you live!
Give where you live! Fairfield County Giving Day is March 1, 2018
Get ready, Giving Day is almost here! Please show your support of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County and donate during Fairfield County Giving Day on March 1st. We raised over $5,700 last year, our second year participating, and we hope to surpass our fundraising goals on March 1st!
Our Giving Day Donation Page will open March 1, 2018 at 12:01 am
Help us fulfill our mission to provide new and quality used clothing to low-income and in-crisis school age children in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Your gift will keep our racks well-stocked for the amazing kids that shop in our store. $75 provides one child with a full week’s wardrobe of quality school clothes, $200 provides warm coats for 10 children; and $400 provides new underwear and socks for 50 children.
Your donations will also help us win one of the many Giving Day prizes, including the grand, grand prize of $20,000! Register in advance and we’ll send you text reminders about the timing of key giving “windows” that will qualify us to win prizes.
On March 1:
- Go to FCGives.org
- Donate $10 or more to Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County
- Spread the word #FairfieldCountyGives
Come together with other donors in the region during this 24-hour event and make an incredibly powerful, collective impact by supporting your favorite local nonprofits.
Give where you live and donate on March 1st!
Celebrating two clothing donation partners, The Undies Project and Groove
We are so grateful for the amazing generosity of our clothing donation partners, The Undies Project and Groove clothing. Two very different organizations, one a nonprofit charity and one a clothing store for kids. Both have both been providing a continuous supply of much needed new clothing for the Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County store.
New underwear is one of our greatest needs
New underwear is always one of our most needed items. Every child that shops at the CTKF store receives seven pieces of new underwear as part of the CTKF Wardrobe, a full week’s worth of school clothing. The Undies Project is a nonprofit based in Cos Cob, CT that distributes donations of new underwear to organizations that help those in need, including Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County!
Founded in 2015, the inspiration to create The Undies Project came to co-president Lucy Langley when she realized that underwear is the most under-donated and most needed item of clothing. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to go without this basic necessity that many of us take for granted. Hygiene and physical comfort are only a part of this basic human need. New, clean underwear also provides dignity and self esteem.
We couldn’t agree more. Thank you Team Undies Project!
Providing kids with top quality, stylish clothes
Groove is a a one-stop-shop kids clothing store in Westport, CT, which offers the latest selection of on-trend clothes and accessories from popular brands. We connected with Groove in November 2016, and ever since they have donated loads of fun clothing and accessories (backpacks, jewelry, etc.) to the CTKF clothing store. All new, fabulous, and funky sale items from their store.
Donations from Groove have helped keep our shelves stocked with quality, new, and in-style clothing for boy and girls. Thank you Team Groove!
