With our Emergency Clothing program, area schools are stocked with school-appropriate clothing including sweatpants, sweatshirts, tee shirts, gym shorts, and underwear. Students who may have an “accident” at school will now have a change of clothing.  They can continue with their instructional day.

The School Clothing program provides far more than just a new wardrobe. It allows schoolchildren to fit in better with their peers and empowers them to reach their potential. For some children, this will be the first time they have had a new pair of shoes, a warm coat, or an item of clothing that is not a hand-me-down.  New clothing has the potential to boost self-esteem, encourage school attendance, and improve academic performance.

Literacy is critical to a child’s educational success.  Our Reading for Life program gives age-appropriate new books to students in low-income schools to promote literacy and help students to build a home library. Our Reading for All program provides gently used books to various agencies in our community to encourage literacy at home. Member volunteers work with students in the classroom to improve their reading and comprehension skills through our Volunteers for Classrooms program.

Through our Vision for the Future program in collaboration with our vision care partners, we provide eye exams and eyeglasses for students in need. The students benefit from improved academic performance, increased self-esteem and a new view of the world around them.