Our eight partner schools are Eastport, Georgetown East, Germantown, Meade Heights, Mills-Parole, Tyler Heights and Van Bokkelen elementary schools, and MacArthur Middle School.

Parents and administrators at the schools we serve voted to require that students wear uniforms. Why? Because research shows that uniforms help students stay focused on school vs. what they are wearing — which is proven every day in the classroom. Every student looks and feels good because they are dressed to learn.

Title I is a federal education program that supports low-income students. Its goal is to raise student achievement. A school is designated Title I if a certain percentage of its students qualifies for free or reduced-price meals.

Overall, 31 percent of elementary and middle school students qualify for free and reduced-price meals. About 35 percent of households in our county live at or close to the poverty level. (Poverty Amidst Plenty, published by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.)

The value of a uniform is $70 per student. A uniform package is comprised of a sweatshirt, two polo shirts, a pair of khaki pants, socks and underwear. In the winter, many students also receive a hat and a pair of gloves. Providing the free school clothing to disadvantaged students eliminates that expense for families that are already struggling.

Each year, we communicate with each school’s counselor to let them know how many uniforms we are able to give them for their in-need students. The counselors determine who will get the clothing. Note that some students receive two pairs of pants, depending on need.

We formed KIN in 2003 after asking administrators in the Anne Arundel County Public School System what we could do to help disadvantaged children. They responded that many of their families could not afford to provide the required school clothing, while also paying all their bills. Over the years, we have fine-tuned this program so that we provide uniforms, free of charge, to over 3,100 students each year. The clothing is high-quality and durable and can be handed down to siblings. The county gives us space in their warehouse to store and package the uniforms. This is proof of their commitment to the program and their trust in us.

We stock an emergency closet at each school to help new students and students who may now need our help.