In times of need, Crisis Assistance Ministry is here for our community, thanks to the generosity of others in the community like you. Through every season of life, there are people who need support and those who can offer it. Back-to-school time is a perfect example.
Families across Charlotte are scrambling to prepare their children for school as summer winds down. Over 40 schools in Charlotte require uniforms, largely those with high concentrations of poverty, which leaves many families struggling to find and afford quality uniforms for their children.
It makes sense that school uniforms for pre-K through high school students are among the most sought-after items by families visiting the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store. Ensuring every child has the appropriate shirts, pants, and accessories can be difficult for families on a tight budget.
There is no greater need than helping the families we serve keep their children in school. Schooling not only educates the children, but also helps families reduce childcare costs, ensure their children are safe, and, most importantly, opens pathways to financial security for students and their families.
You Can Help
That’s where the community comes in. The simple act of donating gently used clothes that do not fit anymore, new clothes that for whatever reason are not quite right, and anything else that would keep a child well-equipped, dignified, and “dressed to learn” for the school year can make an enormous impact on families in our community. Year-round donations of school uniform items in all sizes, from 4T to adult plus sizes, are especially needed.
Take a moment to check your children’s closets. Gently used items can find a new home with families who shop at the Free Store for essential items like school clothes. All sizes, from 4T to adult, are welcome, especially larger sizes.
Consider picking up an extra solid colored golf shirt or pair of khakis for a child whose family might not have the means to do so, but is in a similar situation. There’s even a handy shopping guide to assist you with the process.
Shop from anywhere using our convenient Amazon Wish List to purchase needed items and have them delivered directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Your donations will be distributed, free of charge, to families in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.
School Uniforms = Housing Stability
All the costs of the back-to-school season, including school supplies, afterschool care, extracurricular activities, field trip fees, and miscellaneous expenses to support a child’s education add up quickly. For many, school uniforms can add to that financial burden. The cost of specific color shirts, pants, belts, and other accessories for each growing child can become a barrier to a child’s education. When families shop free of charge for school uniforms and other essentials, their limited resources are freed up for other basic needs. Shoppers routinely tell us that accessing essential clothing and household goods, at no cost, allows them to conserve their hard-earned income to pay for rent and utilities.
That’s how your simple donation of new and gently used clothing supports housing stability for thousands of families preparing for the 2024-2025 school year. Together, we can ensure that every child in our community is “dressed to learn” and ready to embrace the opportunity that education brings.
Your generosity can open the doors of learning for many Charlotte-Mecklenburg children, one uniform at a time.
About the Authors
Jayden is a rising senior at Cato Middle College in Charlotte, NC. With an interest in law, political science, and public service, he has enjoyed working with the Crisis Assistance Ministry, interning in the Community Advocacy & Social Media spaces. As a part of the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, he hopes to explore the stories of all the people in his community, so he can be a fairer leader in the future.
Aashir, a rising senior at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC, harbors a keen interest in law and business. He is gaining practical experience as an intern in Community Advocacy & Social Media at Crisis Assistance Ministry, courtesy of the Bank of America Student Leaders Program. He expresses immense gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to a noble cause at such a remarkable organization.