Nonprofit Clothes For Kids provides free clothing for qualified children

LYNNWOOD — When a new school year draws near, in August, it’s standing-room-only. Kids and adults are in line, waiting for their number to be called.

It’s time to start looking for new school clothes.

“In August, we’ll serve 100 kids a day,” said Diane Martineau, a volunteer at Clothes For Kids. “It takes all the volunteers we can muster.”

The nonprofit provides, at no cost, new and gently used clothes for kids who qualify for free or reduced lunches in school districts throughout Snohomish County

“We sometimes have to work a double shift, opening early, to get all the kids through,” she said. “It’s huge lines, especially for back-to-school.”

Martineau, who works for the Edmonds School District, began volunteering at Clothes For Kids about nine years ago. She had stopped by to drop off some clothes. The manager asked if she was there to volunteer.

She’s been volunteering Thursday evenings at the shop ever since and helps with the organization’s fundraising.

The group has assisted nearly 3,000 students this year with school outfits. Many of the families who come to the shop have fully employed adults, but “something has happened that has just made them suddenly unable to meet the needs of their children,” said Pat Greenstreet, who volunteers at the shop every Friday.

“For some families, it’s an illness of the primary bread winner,” Greenstreet said. “For some folks it’s a separation and the parent is not receiving child support. They’re people who never conceive of being in need. They usually were the donors, not the recipients.”

Clothes For Kids is a bridge to help them get through tough times “so their kids can go to school dressed the same as everybody else,” Greenstreet said. “Our goal is that their self-esteem is enhanced so they can focus on academics rather than feeling bad about themselves. We want them to fit in so they can be successful.”

The organization began in 1984 with volunteers trying to keep emergency supplies of clothing at every school in the Edmonds School District.

“We’ve seen lots of changes over the years,” Martineau said. “I remember when I started out, we were serving just Edmonds. Then we opened (to students) in Mukilteo and then Everett and so on.”

Now more than 50 people volunteer, said Joy Ingram, the organization’s development director.

When students and parents arrive at the shop, they’re given a list with the maximum number of each item they can get, Ingram said. Kids are provided with socks, underwear, shoes, a warm winter coat, pants, shirts, dresses and skirts. “They get a basket and go shopping,” she said.

Some students are so excited they forget they’re not in a regular store, Martineau said. “They see Spider-Man pajamas and ask, ‘Do you have this in a different size?’ ”

“I can imagine what it might be like for kids going back to school and everybody else seems to have new clothing and they don’t,” she said. “It’s a joy to see their faces and how excited they are to come in and select a wardrobe.”

Sharon Salyer; 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Annual breakfast

Clothes For Kids will hold its fifth annual Transforming Lives breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 am. Thursday. The event is at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW in Lynnwood. There is no set charge to attend the fundraising event, but a donation of $100 will be requested during the breakfast. Register at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1165709.

Upcoming events

Clothes For Kids provides free clothing for children who qualify for free or reduced lunches in school districts throughout Snohomish County. It is at 16725 52nd Ave. W, Suite B, in Lynnwood.

It is closed through Monday. It reopens Tuesday. The schedule when it reopens: 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

The last day of operation this school year is March 31. Clothes for Kids will reopen in mid-August for back-to-school shopping.

The organization is sponsoring a rummage sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with adult clothing and small housewares for sale. For more information, call 425-741-6500.