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Fall 2026
Newsletter of Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County
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Dear Friends,
This milestone anniversary coincides with a significant moment of validation for our work. September 15th marks National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day. This special day shines a necessary light on a hidden crisis that directly impacts a child's education, confidence, and well-being—a need CTKF has worked hard to highlight. Please join CTKF in our mission to raise awareness of how a child's ability to learn and interact with peers is impacted by the clothing they wear. You have the ability to make a difference in a child's life.
With the back-to-school season underway, our boutique is bustling, with familiar and new faces. Eligible shoppers are applying for appointments. Because of your incredible, and sustained generosity. CTKF has been able to meet this growing need. CTKF thanks every individual who has cleaned out a closet, everyone who has sponsored a drive, donated funds, and every volunteer who works tirelessly—thank you for ten years of keeping our local kids clothed, confident, and ready to learn.
As CTKF looks to our next decade, we invite you to join us and continue this vital journey.
With deepest gratitude,
Elaine Rubinson, Executive Director
| | National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day - Sept. 15th | | |
While food and housing insecurity are widely discussed, clothing insecurity continues to remain hidden. However, clothing is just as critical to a child attending school. Research has shown that children who are ashamed and embarrassed by their clothing will not be engaged to learn or interact with peers. Nationally, an estimated 40% of children—or 2 out of every 5 kids—experience a lack of adequate clothing.
September 15 is National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day, a time to recognize a crisis that directly impacts a child's education and well-being. This day lands right during the busy back-to-school season. A child without appropriate clothing lacks the confidence and self-esteem to feel good about themselves, which directly impacts them in both academic and social situations. This special day shines a necessary light on this hidden issue, and our hope is that it inspires you to take action.
To mark this day, please join us on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, for a national virtual forum: “The Missing Basic Need: What Clothing Insecurity Reveals About America's Affordability Crisis.” Graciously moderated by CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill, this webinar will bring together leaders from children's clothing banks to examine newly collected national data, the growing demand for clothing assistance, and the difficult choices families are making every day.
You can continue helping us support local families and build awareness:
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Spread the Word: Tell others about this hidden crisis to help bring the issue to light.
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Donate Clothing: Brand-new items can be purchased directly from our Amazon, Target, or Walmart Wish Lists.
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Give Financially: Provide funding that allows us to purchase our most needed items.
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Volunteer: Donate your time to directly support our daily mission.
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October 13 marks exactly one decade since Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County first opened its doors. For 10 years, our mission has been simple yet transformative: to bring dignity and confidence to local kids and families by providing clean, stylish, and school-appropriate clothing to children in need.
Your continued financial and other support made CTKF what it is today. CTKF could not have reached this 10-year milestone without you. Please consider making a financial gift today in honor of our 10th anniversary to ensure that every child in our community has the opportunity to thrive.
| | Back to School with Smiles | |
The 2026/27 school year is officially in full swing. The boutique store has been a whirlwind of excitement! In our first four days, CTKF personal shopper volunteers have assisted 62 children in locating their favorite clothing items to try on and welcomed 35 families. CTKF personal shoppers love to help the kids as they scour the racks for their favorite clothing to try on. Volunteers experience such satisfaction watching a student's face light up with a massive smile as they try on a favorite hoodie or a brand-new pair of sneakers that fit. Those confident smiles are exactly why we do this work. Thank you to our incredible volunteers and donors for ensuring these local kids walked through their school doors this week feeling proud, prepared, and ready to learn!
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| New Ways To Shop And Support CTKF | |
As CTKF works to ensure every student walks into school with confidence, our need for brand-new basics—like sneakers, socks, and sweatpants—is at an all-time high. To make supporting our kids easier than ever, CTKF has expanded our online registries! In addition to our Target registry, you can now shop for the most urgent seasonal needs directly from our brand-new Amazon and Walmart Wish Lists. Every item shipped directly to our boutique helps a local child start the school year right.
👉Shop our Amazon Wish List
👉Shop our Target Registry
👉Shop our Walmart Wish List
| Spotlight on Our Student Supporters | | |
Shoutout to Olivia's "Cycles of Impact"
We want to share a huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to high school student Olivia Herr! Through a student grant, Olivia is launching "Cycles of Impact," a project dedicated to finding local business partners to donate laundry services for CTKF. Because we often need to clean donated clothing items, laundering is an ongoing operational cost.
By securing donated laundry services, Olivia is helping us save vital funds that can go directly toward purchasing new clothing and sneakers for our kids. We are so inspired by Olivia's dedication and leadership—we love seeing young people get involved to make a real difference in their community! If you own a laundry business or know someone who does, please reach out to Olivia at oliviavherr@gmail.com to help make Olivia’s project a success.
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Generous Sweatshirt Donation from Periphery by Stephanie
A huge thanks goes out to college student Stephanie Li for a generous donation of her personally made sweatshirts! Founded in 2024, Stephanie launched her clothing brand, Periphery by Stephanie, to create clothing that inspires confidence and self-expression. Beyond building a beautiful brand with quality craftsmanship, Stephanie has committed her business to giving back through charitable initiatives that support those in need.
We are incredibly inspired to see a young designer using her fashion vision to ensure local school-age children head to class feeling comfortable and confident. Thank you, Stephanie, for your thoughtful generosity and for making a meaningful difference in our community!
| | Join Us This Saturday, Sept. 12th | CTKF is excited to again participate in the 15th Annual Wellness & Lifestyle Expo, Saturday, September 12th, at Harbor Point along the Stamford waterfront. Last year was a massive success, and CTKF hopes to connect with even more kids and families this year. Please visit our booth between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm in the non-profit section right by the Kids Zone. Stop by to enjoy free face painting with a $10 suggested donation to CTKF or a bring NEW clothing item for a school-aged child. | | |
Your donation is deductible pursuant to the IRS rules. Our mission is to provide new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school age children, free of charge. We envision a community in which every child has quality clothing so that he or she may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success.
Clothes To Kids of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving children in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
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