The Trendy Closet, Sullivan and Bourbon, is beginning a new “Clothing For Kids” program that is starting this week.
Christine Thoms, owner of The Trendy Closet clothing stores, is serving as the committee chairperson for the program, which will work with her business.
Thoms provided the following press release on the program this week:
This program’s designation is to help children whose families cannot afford to buy them school clothes every year. The Trendy Closet and community sponsors will provide gift certificates for $150 each to five select children from the Cuba, Bourbon and Sullivan High Schools as well as the middle schools.
Donors will “sponsor” a child or children for $75 each. The Trendy Closet stores will then match that donation, making the total donation in the form of a gift certificate for $150.
The selected children will have met a series of four criteria based on a 1-10 point scoring system, with 10 being the highest scoring in that area. The criteria will encompass need, attendance, performance and a letter of recommendation.
The first criteria: need. Is the child “picked on,” made fun of, or generally ostracized? Is the family unable for financial reasons to purchase school clothing for their child(ren)?
The second criteria: attendance. We do not want to bestow this gift on a child who is constantly cutting school or classes.
Third criteria: performance. This rating does not necessarily mean academic performance, although it can be. It could be sports, or yearbook, or just helping other children. Does this child get involved with his/her school and his/her peers? Does this child make an effort every day to be positive even when their home situation may not be?
Fourth criteria: letter of recommendation. This letter can come from a pastor, a civic or community leader, a counselor, anyone who knows this child’s situation and is willing to speak up on his/her behalf.
We have set Oct. 1 as the deadline for student judging sheets and letters of recommendation to be turned in and Oct. 10 as the awards date. The gift certificates will be turned over to the superintendent of those schools to be awarded to those children selected by the committee.
Very important note: The children themselves will not be recognized as we do not want them singled out; however, the sponsors most definitely will with all the local media sources.
If your organization has an interest in sponsoring a child, please contact Christine Thoms, committee chairperson. If you know of a child who could benefit from this program, please give them a copy of this paperwork and have them contact their school for further information.