A group of 11 sixth grade students and history teacher, Will Colombo, from the Stanwich School of Greenwich, CT, came ready to help in the CTKF Store this week. Stanwich School students volunteer their time once a month in the store to lend their assistance wherever it may be needed. CTKF’s Volunteer Coordinator Nadine Baccellieri kept the group motivated as they worked together on projects such as ensuring an abundance of coats would be available for clients, organizing the cubicles filled with new packages of underwear and socks, refolding pajamas and shirts into neat stacks, and keeping the shoe sizes in proper order. As with a retail store, tidying up and displaying more items for shoppers is important. Maintaining the store is a task that requires enthusiasm, and this group had just that! Thank you Stanwich students and Will Colombo for a job well done!
On the evening of Thursday, December 1st, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) held its first fundraising event, “Cook for Kids”. The much-anticipated event was sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors and took place at Aitoro Appliance & Electronics of Norwalk, CT. With over 170 tickets sold, by 6pm, the store was filled with community members in attendance to support CTKF. Aitoro served as the perfect space for the local chefs cooking their delicious creations. Attendees were eager to get a taste of each talented chef’s freshly prepared food.
CTKF’s Executive Director Elaine Rubinson spoke about the organization’s mission, activities and progress since the grand opening on October 13th, 2016, and recognized the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford – Yerwood Clubhouse Executive Director Mike Cotela for his continued and valued support. Carolina Ahumada, a Social Service Professional at Family Centers of Greenwich, CT, shared inspiring feedback from her clients that have shopped in the store. Carolina described the joy and excitement of her clients receiving quality, clean clothing through shopping at CTKF.
Star 99.9’s radio host Anna Zapp worked her magic, keeping the crowd energized and excited as she promoted the silent auction items, the “Drop Your Cash” collection for new underwear and socks, and the raffle. Guests waited patiently for the results of the highly sought-after auction items, as they sparked lots of buzz throughout the evening. Donors included:
CTKF’s first annual “Cook for Kids” proved to be a success, raising over $19,000. CTKF is extremely grateful for the wonderful support received for this event from the Fairfield County community, restaurants and chefs, local companies and businesses, and organizations. The organization would like to extend its thanks to Tony Aitoro for making this event possible. CTKF would also like to recognize its Event Committee members, Alexandra Briggs Kling, Livia Feig, Craig Wood, Carrie Franzese, Steve Berni, and Valerie Fischel, as well as the volunteers for their incredible efforts and dedication in organizing this event! Funds raised from “Cook for Kids” will go directly to the CTKF store’s operational and client clothing needs.
Join us as we make a difference in Fairfield County communities. For more about ways to get involved with CTKF, click here.
The holidays can’t all be about shopping. According to News 12 Connecticut’s “Medical Minute” today, psychologists say that encouraging kids to volunteer and donate during the holidays are great ways to get them thinking about others. And they can do both for Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County. We have a number of volunteer opportunities available for kids, and making a donation in honor of someone is a great holiday gift that can given by kids and adults alike!
Jump to 0:25 to see the CTKF segment of the News 12 Medical Minute video.
Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving low-income or in-crisis school age children in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
We envision a community in which every child has quality clothing so that he or she may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success. Our mission is to provide new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school age children, free of charge.
CKTF would like to thank the student members of Stamford High School’sbuildOn Club and their Advisor/Teacher, Matthew Gladstone, for spending this past Sunday afternoon volunteering in the store. The few hours of work that this group devoted to the CTKF mission was much appreciated.
With clients shopping at CTKF the day before, the store was in need of restocking. The students did an excellent job of preparing the store for the next week of clients. The group sorted through boxes of new items and attended to the details, such as organizing the accessories in both the boy’s and girl’s sections. Sunday’s cold, windy weather served as a reminder that this group’s priority was to ensure that plenty of warm clothing, scarves, and gloves would be available for children needing winter garments.
Thank you Matthew Gladstone for helping organize the afternoon, and thank you buildOn members for your assistance!
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we know this is the time of year when individuals seek ways to give back to the community. With the globally-recognized #GivingTuesday falling on November 29th, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County is calling upon you for assistance!
Each eligible child may shop in the CTKF Store (twice in a 12-month period) for a full week‘s worth of school clothes. CTKF depends on the efforts of volunteers to maintain the store’s tidiness and presentation, so that every client scheduled for an appointment may have a pleasant and smooth shopping experience. #GivingTuesday will be a day for individual volunteers or groups to come together to help us ensure that our racks are full, replenished, sized appropriately, and ready for families to make their selections.
Consider spending an hour or two assisting in the CTKF store with a few of your closest classmates, friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members. Common projects include hanging and folding clothing, displaying items around the store, arranging clothing in size order, and sorting through new donations. Bring your energy and spirit, have fun working with one another, and provide CTKF with the critical support it needs to help children in Fairfield County communities have access to quality, clean clothing!
Individuals or groups may volunteer between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. To arrange a specific time, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Nadine Baccellieri or call (203) 539-1120. We look forward to seeing you on #GivingTuesday!
Not able to volunteer on #GivingTuesday? Consider supporting CTKF by donating gently used or new clothing. Schedule your drop-off with our Clothing Donation Coordinator, Carrie Franzese, via email or (203) 357-5376. Drop-offs will be accepted between the hours of 11am and 3pm on November 29. To contribute a monetary donation, click here.
CTKF’s Volunteer Coordinator Nadine Baccellieri assists a client as she shops for clothing for her daughter.
On October 13th, 2016, CTKF opened its doors and began serving families in Fairfield County. CTKF representatives and volunteers have been busy arranging appointments for families and assisting clients with finding the perfect fit, selecting comfortable and warm items, and choosing unique styles that each child will feel confident wearing.
Since our official opening 1 month ago, we have provided over 92 children with wardrobes! For us at CTKF, seeing the smiling faces of children and parents as they leave our store with much needed shopping bags filled with quality clothing is the most wonderful feeling. We are proud to have served Fairfield County families and we are determined to continue providing children with access to clean clothing, free of charge. Additionally, we are grateful for the tremendous efforts of our volunteers – thank you!
Want to make a difference in the lives of children in Fairfield County communities? We want to hear from you! Learn about our volunteer opportunities here.
Interested in making a donation? Read more about ways to support us here.
This year, Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County will celebrate the official start of the charitable giving season on #GivingTuesday!
On Tuesday, November 29 individuals, communities and organizations around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
Get involved on #GivingTuesday and help Clothes To Kids make a difference for low-income and in-crisis students in Fairfield County. $50 provides one child with a full week’s worth of school clothes.
Join CTKF on #GivingTuesday, November 29, 2016.
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community and your company to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join the movement!
Read the Stamford Advocate’s wonderful piece on the Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County, and the opening of our new store (published October 13, 2016).
Here’s an excerpt:
One of the first customers Thursday was Stamford resident Tania Milla, who was picking out clothes for her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. My daughter really needs winter clothes, she said, as she browsed through the girl’s section. Milla praised the organization and said she’s already spreading the word to her friends. ‘This is very good for the people who need it’, she said.
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!
