In the spirit of the holiday season, my next couple of blogs will focus on how we can help others in need. This blog highlights Clothes To Kids Fairfield County and how they are helping kids in need.

Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County (CTKF) envisions a community in which every school-age child has quality clothing so they may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success. Their unique approach is a boutique-style setting where children work with a personal shopper to choose the clothing they like. The shopping experience is geared toward giving kids the dignity and respect they deserve. Elaine Rubinson got the idea to bring CTKF to Stamford, CT, after she attended a Clothes to Kids fundraiser in 2014 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Florida currently has three boutique Clothes to Kids locations: one in St. Petersburg, one in Tampa, and the original location in Clearwater. Two other Clothes to Kids boutiques are in Denver, Colorado, Providence, Rhode Island, and a third smaller outlet in Waynesville, North Carolina.

CTKF is a remarkable charity, but it can only be viable and even more successful with your help. Clothing insecurity is a hidden crisis in the United States, affecting an estimated two out of every five children. For some children, this means enduring cold weather without a winter coat. For others, it means having to wear clothes that are too small or not being able to participate in gym class because they don’t have proper sneakers. Last year alone, CTKF supplied more than 1,000 outfits to eligible kids and kids in crisis in 2024 and anticipates a greater number of distributions in 2025. The number increases every year.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Elaine, the Executive Director (pictured). No one is more committed to spreading the word about CTKF and the desperate need for donations. Since 2016, CTKF has provided low-income and in-crisis children in grades K-12 with two school wardrobes a year, with the assistance of a personal shopper, to meet the varied seasonal needs, free of charge, each year. To meet this growing need, CTKF depends on the generosity of individuals and businesses for financial support and donations of almost new clothing, new clothing, and new shoes.

This is where my readers come in. I have listed some ways you can help Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County. (information is from their website: https://clothestokidsfairfieldcounty.org/)

Donate Clothing & Shoes

Clothes To Kids gladly accepts quality new and nearly new clothing and new shoes appropriate for children in grades K-12 to wear to school.

Accepted Items

• NEW underwear, sports bras, socks
• NEW bathing suits
• Tops (shirts, blouses, sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies)
• Bottoms (pants, jeans, shorts, leggings, joggers)
• Outerwear (winter and lightweight coats, jackets)
• Footwear (sneakers, sandals, winter boots)
• Dressy/Holiday wear (dresses, skirts, blazers, ties)
• Accessories (backpacks, winter hats and gloves, belts, purses)

Donation Guidelines

• Please ensure that all items are clean and in good condition.
• No items that are dirty, stained, ripped, damaged, or have excessive wear.
• Underwear, bras, socks, and bathing suits must be new and in their original packaging. We cannot accept used items.
• We always appreciate items separated by gender and season, with bags labeled accordingly! (This does help hugely)

Any help you can give them is greatly appreciated, whether by donating clothing or making a monetary donation. You are helping kids in crisis in Fairfield County.

CTKF Store & General Information

The CTKF Store is located in the Lathon Wider Community Center, 137 Henry Street, Stamford CT 06902. We’re on the second floor. There is a parking lot and entrance on 34 Woodland Avenue.

STORE HOURS: Appointments are available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10am, 11am, and 12pm.

Questions? Please get in touch:

• info@clothestokidsfairfieldcounty.org
• (203) 595-5664
• (203) 595-5665 fax

Thank you, and until next time, Happy Thrifting!