ST. PETERSBURG — Clothes To Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves low income or in-crisis schoolchildren in Pinellas County, will participate in the 2015 MLK Day of Service by delivering bags of clothing to local elementary schools.
Executive Director Patti Hanks describes Clothes to Kids as a grassroots organization, and said that it provides free of charge new and gently used clothing for children pre-K through 12th grade. There are two locations, with one in St. Pete at 3251 Third Ave. N., Ste. 145, and one in Clearwater at 1059 N. Hercules Ave.
“We’re going to provide school clothing, specifically school uniforms, for low income kids that qualify for free lunch at local elementary schools,” Hanks explained.
On the actual Day of Service, Mon., Jan. 19, a group of volunteers of up to 20 people will put together bags of clothing for delivery to area schools. Since all schools will be closed for the holiday, volunteers will be delivering the bags on a different day, Hanks said.
“We’re doing uniform tops, uniform bottoms, new socks, underwear and shoes,” Hanks said.
This is the second year that Clothes To Kids has pitched in to the community for the MLK Day of Service.
“We did the same project last year,” the St. Pete resident said, “and it was pretty successful. We’ll probably provide about 40 children with a week’s worth of school clothing.”
Hanks added that she believes this is an opportunity for everyone to use this Day of Service as a chance to think about important issues in the community and get to do something concrete about it.
“I guess that’s the thing I’m happy about,” she said, “is that we’re going to involve the community in doing something very specific to help kids feel more comfortable in school and have the clothes they need to get their education.”
Hanks noted that she admires the “passionate and peaceful way” Dr. King set out to effect change.
“I think the quote that I like the best is ‘if you want to have peace, then work for justice,’” she said. “So if you have children that don’t have the clothing that they need to go to school, if you want to work for a more peaceful place for us to live, then raise money and give children the tools that they need to go to school. I admire that about him. If you want something to happen, then you have to do something.”
Clothes To Kids: MLK Day of Service project
BY FRANK DROUZAS, Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — Clothes To Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves low income or in-crisis schoolchildren in Pinellas County, will participate in the 2015 MLK Day of Service by delivering bags of clothing to local elementary schools.
Executive Director Patti Hanks describes Clothes to Kids as a grassroots organization, and said that it provides free of charge new and gently used clothing for children pre-K through 12th grade. There are two locations, with one in St. Pete at 3251 Third Ave. N., Ste. 145, and one in Clearwater at 1059 N. Hercules Ave.
“We’re going to provide school clothing, specifically school uniforms, for low income kids that qualify for free lunch at local elementary schools,” Hanks explained.
On the actual Day of Service, Mon., Jan. 19, a group of volunteers of up to 20 people will put together bags of clothing for delivery to area schools. Since all schools will be closed for the holiday, volunteers will be delivering the bags on a different day, Hanks said.
“We’re doing uniform tops, uniform bottoms, new socks, underwear and shoes,” Hanks said.
This is the second year that Clothes To Kids has pitched in to the community for the MLK Day of Service.
“We did the same project last year,” the St. Pete resident said, “and it was pretty successful. We’ll probably provide about 40 children with a week’s worth of school clothing.”
Hanks added that she believes this is an opportunity for everyone to use this Day of Service as a chance to think about important issues in the community and get to do something concrete about it.
“I guess that’s the thing I’m happy about,” she said, “is that we’re going to involve the community in doing something very specific to help kids feel more comfortable in school and have the clothes they need to get their education.”
Hanks noted that she admires the “passionate and peaceful way” Dr. King set out to effect change.
“I think the quote that I like the best is ‘if you want to have peace, then work for justice,’” she said. “So if you have children that don’t have the clothing that they need to go to school, if you want to work for a more peaceful place for us to live, then raise money and give children the tools that they need to go to school. I admire that about him. If you want something to happen, then you have to do something.”
