Clothing Exchange and Clothing Donation Information

What?
A Clothing Exchange is taking good quality clothes that you no longer need and trading them for clothes that you do need. The other purpose for the event will be to collect donated clothes and give clothes to foster families.

When? Saturday August 26th, 2017 from 9am-noon

Where? First Baptist Church – 9th and Trinity

Why? The Back Story
I have served in The Junior League of Austin's Resale Shop from 2004-2009. I was always impressed with the range of things that the shop did for the community in addition to selling great stuff to the community like giving small toys to the Hands of Luke, giving items that did not meet the criteria of the shop to the Salvation Army, and my favorite – we gave foster children a $25 credit monthly for clothing. The Resale Shop closed in June 2009 the credit was no longer available to foster families.

A family at our church that has foster children used the shop for clothing monthly. When I heard that there would be a job loss in the summer of 2009 in that family I felt God leading me to do something not only for the one family in our church but, for others like them that don’t need the extra strain of having to buy clothes for the children that they are already providing so much else for.

When you have children you are overwhelmed with their clothing – what currently fits and then the large amount that they outgrow. It is a continual process of shuffling clothing in and out of drawers and I always have boxes of clothes in my girl’s closet ready for donation, garage sale, or swapping. I felt like others may have more than they need also and could donate them to us.

Who?
This Clothing Exchange would be for anyone that has children but, the main focus would be on foster children and their families. The full list of rules for the exchange are below. The main rule if you are not a foster family are bring items to swap and take items home with you that meet your current needs. The main rule if you are a foster family is take what you need for the fall/winter season and if there is more left at the end of the exchange you can get more.

Clothing Donations:
Do you have a bunch of clothes to donate and are not interested in swapping them? Great! We need lots of clothes for the foster families. Email Belynda@austinsupermom.com for drop-off/pick-up info. Items can also be dropped off at First Baptist Church at 9th and Trinity.

Watch:
Channel 8 covered the Clothing Exchange for their back to school coverage.
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=249893

Sponsors:
All additional sponsorship donations will be used to buy socks and underwear for the foster children. If you are interested in sponsoring the event please contact Belynda@austinsupermom.com.

Media Contacts:
Are you in the media and can help me publicize this event? Fantastic! Please email me at Belynda@austinsupermom.com.

Volunteers:
Want to volunteer? Of course you can! We would love the help! We will need help overseeing the exchange and welcoming people to FBC. Please contact Belynda@austinsupermom.com.