Student asks for new clothes – for others

  • By Sarah Koenig Enterprise reporter
  • Friday, April 4, 2008 12:58pm

When Danielle Elliot, ninth-grader at Mountlake Terrace High School, celebrated her 15th birthday in March, she had an unusual gift request for those coming to her party.

Instead of presents, Elliot asked for cash or clothing donations to Clothes For Kids, a local nonprofit that provides school clothes for children and work clothes for adults in Snohomish County.

“I know it would be hard to go to school and not have the clothes to make you cool,” she said. “I know there are kids at my school like that, though I don’t know of any particular kid.”

About 20 people, mostly adults and family members, came to the party, which raised almost $800 for the organization.

Elliot heard of Clothes for Kids through the work they do in Edmonds School District schools.

“I have so much in my life I don’t really need anything else,” Elliot said. “I wanted to help people who may not necessarily have what they want.”

Mark Smith, executive director of Clothes For Kids, said that students’ generosity continues to surprise and amaze him.

“I’m always amazed at how much kids get it, probably more than the rest of us, the need for children to get to school with something quality to wear,” he said.

For information about Clothes for Kids, see www.clothesforkids.org.

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