An Auction Thank You

Clothes for Kids would like to thank the many volunteers, donors, sponsors, and everyone else who contributed to making our 2008 Auction a success.

Held on September 20, 2008, at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood, the auction saw a record number of attendees bid on a variety of items generously donated by the local community.

Daisy Troop Sponsors One Warm Coat Drive for CFK

Daisy Troop 42948 in conjunction with all Machias Elementary Girl Scout Troops, is sponsoring a Coat Drive now through November 7, 2008. Please go to www.onewarmcoat.org for more information on how you can help. All coats, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, hats and mittens are welcome.

Our local collection center is Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood. Clothes for Kids serves all underprivileged families in Snohomish County. From August 2008 through October 15, 2008, Clothes for Kids has already served 1300 families.

Nancy Laird-Burris, manager of Clothes for Kids says her facility cannot keep up with the demand. The shelves are empty and any and all clothes are welcome at this time. A public appeal just went out today and will be featured in The Herald within the coming days.
Nancy can be reached directly at 425-741-6500 or at nlaird@clothesforkids.org.

Let's see if we can really "warm up" their shelves and do a good turn this month by helping out our local community. Thank youJ

For help with local collection or drop-off locations, please contact Krista Murphy at 425-397-7675 or at kristamurphy@verizon.net.

Clothes for Kids has an urgent need

In the first five weeks of the school year, Clothes for Kids has served an incredible 1,256 children - a record number for the organization, and 25% ahead of last year’s total.

With many families feeling the pinch of challenging economic times, this trend is expected to continue, which would bring the need to over 4,000 wardrobes this school year. Clothes for Kids is in desperate need of financial and in-kind donations. Financial assistance is needed to provide new underwear, socks, shoes, and other urgent needs. In-kind donations of new and gently used children’s clothing are greatly needed. As you can see from the attached photos, the shelves at Clothes for Kids are bare for the first time in years.

Thank you to the Everett Clinic Foundation

Clothes for Kids has recently been awarded a $5,000 grant from The Everett Clinic Foundation.

About The Everett Clinic Foundation:

The Everett Clinic Foundation was established in 1994 by Clinic staff and physicians. The goal of the Foundation is to provide ongoing philanthropic support to charitable organizations in Snohomish County. The Foundation is administered by a Board of Directors who are responsible for the allocation of funds.

Bicycle Essay Contest Begins

Clothes for Kids Announces Student
Bicycle Essay Contest

Summary:

One boy and one girl of each grade level (Kindergarten-Sixth grade) will each win a bicycle and helmet. To be eligible to enter, children must live in Snohomish County and qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Entries must be received by October 31, 2008.

Eligibility
• Contest open to all Snohomish County Children in grades Kindergarten - sixth who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.


How to Enter
• Completely fill out all the required fields on the entry form, including first and last name, complete home mailing address (no P.O. Boxes), daytime telephone number (including area code), date of birth and e-mail address
• Essays must be 100 words or less and begin with: “The reason I would like a bicycle is. . .” (Kindergartners my substitute an art project or drawing in place of an essay).


Judging Criteria/Winner(s) Selection
• Essays will be judged on creativity, originality, grammar, spelling, and punctuation and conformity to contest rules.
• Essays must be written by students, not copied from other sources and not created in collaboration with anyone.
• Essays must include at least one bicycle safety element (such as wearing a helmet, signaling, observing stop signs, red lights and other traffic laws), how the student would care for the bicycle.
• Essays may be typed or handwritten. If handwritten, essays must be double-spaced, neat and legible.
• Students should make copies of student essays before sending. Essays will not be returned.
• Entries must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2008.

Winner(s) Notification
• Within a week of deadline for entries.
• Winning essays will be distributed to the media for possible publication.

Prizes
• Judges will select one male and one female first-place winner in each grade level, who will receive a bike and a bicycle helmet. Second and third-place winners in each grade level will receive bicycle helmets. All winners will receive a certificate of achievement from Clothes For Kids. This contest will allow for 14 bikes.

For more information, please contact: Ken Nabors at: joynessinbikedom@yahoo.com.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (Detach and place on back of each entry.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Student

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Age: ______ Grade: _____

School: _____________________________________________________________


Address: Street, City, ZIP Code

Phone Number: (______) _______________________________

Parent/Guardian

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
Address: Street, City, ZIP Code

Phone Number: (______)__________________


Please send essay entries to: Clothes For Kids, Bicycle Essay Contest
16725 52nd Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA 98056

Opening Day at Clothes for Kids

Opening day for infants and toddlers was a huge success, we served 59 infants and toddlers on Wednesday, 61 on Thursday, and 30 today.

A BIG Thank you to Clothes for Kids

At Clothes for Kids, we have the pleasure of serving many families in the community throughout the year. Here is a letter received recently from a satisfied client:

Nancy and Volunteers,

A Great BIG Thank you to Clothes For Kids and all who work there. You outfitted 4 out of my 5 kids for school this year. It has been a hard year for us as well as for many others I'm sure. My husband runs his own business and he was out of work for 6 months last year. We have had a very hard time trying to "catch up" and not having to worry about clothes or school supplies this Fall was such a relief. Everyone that works at Clothes For Kids has such a happy heart to give and is so helpful. Thank you for your spirit of giving and generosity. May God bless all you do for others.

Gratefully,
C.Z. of Edmonds

Clothes for Kids Auction: 09/20/08

Celebrate the Children - Clothes for Kids Annual Dinner & Auction

September 20th, 2008 at 6:00pm - Embassy Suites Hotel in Lynnwood

A fun time will be had by all, as we will have a variety of live and silent auction items to please everyone. Please e-mail office@clothesforkids.org to ensure an invitation or to donate an auction item.

URGENT: Backpacks and School Supplies needed

Low-income Children in Snohomish County in Urgent Need of Backpacks and School Supplies

This September, thousands of children throughout Snohomish County will go back to school without the necessary backpacks and school supplies. It is important for each child to start the school year off right by having the essential supplies. It is equally important that those same children have the supplies they need not just in September, but throughout the school year as well. Clothes for Kids provides school supplies to homeless and low-income children year-round. This year, the need for our support services is expected to grow, while the much-needed supplies have been harder to come by.
Please consider donating some new items or gently used that are needed for the return to a new school year. Clothes for Kids would like to provide these essential items throughout the coming school year.
Recommended items: New or gently used backpacks, Marble & 5 Subject Notebooks, Scissors, Lunch Boxes & Thermos, Crayons & Colored Pencils, Glue, Paper/Memo pads, Pens/Pencils, Rulers, Erasers, Index cards, Highlighters, Calculators, New Socks (Children Size), Underwear.
All donations will go to homeless and low-income children in Snohomish County. Please drop off your donations at Clothes for Kids, located in at 16725 52nd Avenue West Suite B – Lynnwood, WA 98037.
The mission of Clothes for Kids is to help qualified community members build confidence and self-sufficiency by providing quality wardrobes and resources.

Since 1984, Clothes for Kids has helped to enhance the learning environment for thousands of children by meeting the clothing and educational needs of low-income children in Snohomish County. Our goal is to provide these services to children in our community, so they may arrive at school, ready to learn.
When: Ongoing
Where: Clothes For Kids - 16725 52nd Avenue West Suite B – Lynnwood, WA 98037
Time: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2nd Saturday of each month, starting October 11th
Contact: Mark Smith, Executive Director
or Nancy Laird-Burris, Shop Manager and Volunteer Coordinator
425-741-6500
office@clothesforkids.org

Calling all Volunteers!

Clothes for Kids needs volunteers
Agency expands service area

Clothes for Kids, a Snohomish County non-profit working with low income families, seeks adults and teens to staff its expanded service area. It provides services to qualified families in all of Snohomish County. Volunteers work one to two shifts per week. Day shifts are from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Night shifts are 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
Tasks include receiving donations, sorting and cleaning clothing and shoes, restocking the boutique, and assisting clients in finding clothing. Training is provided.
Clothes for Kids, 16725 52 Ave. W, Lynnwood, provides a boutique shopping experience with stylish clothing intended to enhance kids’ self esteem. Last year 3,462 wardrobes were provided to 2,661 children. Demand this year is expected to reach 4,000 wardrobes.
To volunteer or make a donation, contact Nancy Laird-Burris, Volunteer Coordinator, at 425-741-6500.

Zoo Tunes is Coming!

The popular Zoo Tunes concert series is coming up. And what better way to enjoy this popular Summer concert series than FREE TICKETS from Clothes for Kids? Click on the ad to the left, print it out, and send it in to enter.

Oh, and if the tickets weren't enough to get your attention, our friends at the Maddox Grill in Lynnwood are adding a picnic meal.

For more information on Zoo Tunes, visit their website here: http://www.zoo.org/zootunes/index.html

Local Partner Makes Global Impact

By Jarucia Jaycox Nirula

May of last year was the first time I heard of World Vision.

Our then brand new executive director, Mark Smith, announced during the May board meeting that he’d met with Jim Peterson, local storehouse manager for World Vision, in order to strike up a partnership. In our community, the Federal Way based organization provides, among other things, school supplies for those whose budgets don’t stretch far enough to cover this basic educational requirement.

Due to World Vision’s distribution location and hours, however, many of those qualifying for this assistance were not able to actually benefit from it. This is where Clothes for Kids stepped in, by offering to act a as a local distributor. Many of the same families who’d visit World Vision for supplies come to our shop for clothing. This partnership saves the families a trip and ensures they receive the full benefit of both services.

World Vision recently blipped on my radar again during the aftermath of Cyclone Nagris in Myanmar (formally know as Burma). Amidst distressing reports of Myanmar’s political regime denying access to most foreign assistance, I heard the name “World Vision” as one of the very few humanitarian organizations able to offer help. Having had a standing presence in the country, World Vision staffers were some of the very first international aid workers allowed to travel beyond Rangoon to the hardest hit areas of the Irrawaddy Delta.

When I first about World Vision (again!) I thought, “No this can’t be our World Vision.” Sure enough it was, though. I reflected on just how small one’s world can seem at times when looking no further than to the edges of one’s community or region. Yet here we are members of global community, where the generosity of one local non-profit compliments another and at the same time reaches to the other side of the globe to benefit those in the direst of emergent situations.