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Finding Help Getting School Clothing and Supplies

July 24, 2010

A backpack full of school supplies.I am a single father with 2 kids, a boy 15 and a girl 14. They will be starting school this next mouth and I do not have the money to buy them school clothes. Do you know of anything I could do. God bless.

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By jonatan from from Fayette, MO

Answers

By Harriet (Guest Post)
August 1, 20080 found this helpful
Best Answer

If there is a food pantry that you know of or are affiliated with, they might know of a place that has clothing at no cost. I know of two pantries in my vicinity that does this. It's yours to take.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 186 Feedbacks
July 24, 20101 found this helpful
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My daughter uses the KMart layaway quite often. A lot of the Salvation Army Thrift Stores give out vouchers for free clothing. Where I live there are some churches that have clothing give aways every now and then.

 
July 25, 20103 found this helpful
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I see that you have already gotten several great replies. I agree with the answer to ask at local churches, even if you don't attend. Several of the churches in our area help out children during school time, and many of the residents donate money, clothes, school supplies to them, even if we don't attend those churches.

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Don't feel ashamed. Times are bad now for many more people than ever before! God Bless you and your kids, and may things improve for you soon!

 
July 25, 20103 found this helpful
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Check for a Freecycle group in your area (www.freecycle.org/). Also, try second-hand stores (Once Upon a Child, Plato's Closet), Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and garage sales (many garage sales are listed in local news papers, local news papers' web sites, or even Craig's List).

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 107 Feedbacks
July 25, 20101 found this helpful
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Call your local Adult and Family Services, or whatever it's called in your state and they will know all resources in your area. Since you have the web, also check your local newspaper if on line; they usually run an article on resources for kids clothes and school supplies right before school starts.

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Better yet, call the living section of your local biggest newspaper, and ask if they are running such an article, and ask to talk to person writing it and ask them for good resources. Best of luck. Been there.

 
July 25, 20101 found this helpful
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Check out craigslist. I am a single mom myself, so i know the feeling! Good luck!

 
September 10, 20102 found this helpful
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I understand exactly how you feel because I raised 4 kids as a single parent. I remember one year not having enough money to buy them Christmas gifts but somehow we made it. What I learned to do was do my shopping at Thrift stores. You will be amazed at what you can find there.

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I still buy my clothes there. But I would caution you on one thing, be prepared to become addicted to thrift stores. Once you realize what you can find there for so little you will never want to go anywhere else.

 
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11 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

July 17, 2011

I am a mother of a 16 year daughter. She is in need of new school clothes. We live on an income of $585 per month for the three of us. This includes my husband, also. He is unable to work because he has prostate cancer and I am unable to work due to seizures plus heart problems. She wears a size 16 in women's jeans and extra-large in shirts. We barely can pay our bills.

Please does anyone have any advise? I am open to suggestions. Thank you for your time. I am sorry to ask this, but how can I afford school clothes if I do not have enough money to pay my electric and phone bill which I am late on.

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Yours truly.

By lyonsoldtown

Answers

July 18, 20110 found this helpful
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Is your daughter able to work? She could get a part time job and buy her own clothes for school. She doesn't have to buy brand new clothes, she could learn to shop at thrift stores, or at the clearance racks at retail stores like Wal-Mart.
Also here is a link to a site that has a list of programs to help people living on a limited income:
www.needhelppayingbills.com/.../low_income_assistance_programs.html

 
July 18, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

Do you have a Freecycle.org in your area? If you can, join it and when you have complied with the join up rules, ask for the clothes.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 104 Feedbacks
July 18, 20110 found this helpful
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May I suggest that you get yourself to the nearest Department of Children and Families. Sounds to me like you may be entitled to financial help with several things including food stamps and perhaps even some emergency cash. Medicaid also comes to mind that will help with hospital, doctors, as well as any prescriptions needed.

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Depending on where you live, and the safety, your 16 year old daughter might could find a part-time job that will help her with clothing. At her age, and depending on the hours she'd be working, safety is the main factor in my opinion. Her safety getting to and coming home from work.

If you have family, you might consider appealing to them for a little help with clothing for your daughter. I wish you the best, and I don't think you're going to be all by yourselves in this situation. Many people are facing the exact same state in the very near future unless things change quickly.

Pookarina

 
July 20, 20110 found this helpful
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You are probably eligible for some help on your utility bills. I know that where I live, people can get help through Catholic Charities. You can probably call your utility company for direction on this. Also, do you belong to a church congregation? If so, please talk to your minister about your needs; he should be able to give you some help and direction. And definitely contact the Salvation Army; they are all about helping people when they are in need.

 
July 20, 20111 found this helpful
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Most schools have a clothing bank, a lot of churches do also. Check to see if your area has a Community Action Program (CAP) They can give you names and addresses of places that can help with utilities, food and clothing.

 
August 1, 20110 found this helpful
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Have you ever heard of Craigslist.org you can post a ad on that sight that u r looking for clothes and can't afford them and what sizes for the area you live in. I have seen people post in my area not sure if they got a response, but it's worth a try, If you have smaller sizes you could say that you have smaller sizes to give towards them. Or you could sell them on there too if in good shape. But like any free ad sites watch out for spam and any weird feedbacks that don't look right. You can sell anything on that sight. Good Luck! We have used it and sold our truck and had no problem. It's kinda like using the newspaper ads.

 
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July 28, 2020

I am looking for suggestions for where to find back to school help. I live in a town that has almost nothing, two dollar stores and no resources. So does anyone know of anywhere I can find help with school clothes and supplies?

I have a ten year old daughter and twin girls that are almost three.

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
July 28, 20200 found this helpful
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I am not sure what state you live in but if there is a Salvation Army in your area they help parents in need of school supplies for their children. You can also try contacting the kid's school and see what they offer low-income parents in the form of school supplies. Here is a really good article that lists 9 different ways a parent can get the help they need for school supplies. www.care.com/.../#:~:text=The%20Salvation%20Army%20is....

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
July 28, 20200 found this helpful
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You may live in a small town but I feel sure you have several churches in your area and some of these are a good place to start.
You do not have to be a member or even of the church's denomination to ask for help.
Do not feel ashamed to ask for help as there are a lot of people asking for help that never dreamed their lives would come to this.

I would suggest you pay a visit to the office - if they are open - and ask to see the pastor/priest. You may have to make an appointment. Be sure to wear a mask and either have children with you or have pictures.

If you have a Salvation Army or any Thrift store they will usually always provide some kind of assistance with clothes and maybe school supplies.
Humane Society and Hospice thrift sores are excellent - if these are near you.

New areas are available so Google free school supplies and clothes with your zip code and see what is available.
I would suggest do this as soon as possible because supplies do run out.

 

Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
August 1, 20200 found this helpful
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There are inexpensive supplies at Target right now. you could order for store pick up like: 50 cent markers, .50 crayons, .50 color pencils, .25 glue & etc.

Staples has notebooks for .25 cents and it's even free shipping no minimum. So essentially you could grab some cheap school supplies without having to pay a shipping fee.

Other options you could look into:

www.care.com/.../

 
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September 8, 2020

I have COPD plus heart failure. We have four grandkids and need help with clothes size, boy's teen 9th grade, 30 pants, shirts men's med, 3 girls, 10 and 12, 7 and 8.

Thank you.

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
September 8, 20200 found this helpful
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There is an app in your area called Freecycle. I would post on this app and ask for any help you can get. There are also Churches in your local area that you can go to and ask for some help. I know at the Salvation Army and even the Goodwill stores they have very cheap clothes that you can buy for the kids. I would also contact a social worker if you have one and see if they can help you out with a voucher so you can go and buy some clothes.

This is an excellent website that helps low-income families to pay bills or even get some help in getting some clothes for school. I would check this out and apply here for some financial help. If you have Facebook you can post there to see if anyone has some clothes their children have outgrown and are willing to donate to you. Yard sales are also a good place to find clothes very cheap for the kids.

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
September 8, 20200 found this helpful
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Sorry that you and your family are having to go through these health problems that seem to be responsible for causing all kinds of other problems.
There are places that offer help with clothing and other items but most of them will require a visit to the store/place.
A good place to start is to place a 'wanted/needed' ad on Craigslist, Freecycle, Nextdoor and state your story and maybe there will be someone that can help with some of the types/sizes.

nextdoor.com/

Your local charity thrift stores usually will help with situations like this: Salvation Army, Habitat, Goodwill, Humane Society shops, and most of the church stores also will help - all of these will require a personal visit by a responsible adult.

You do not say where you live but if you Google need help with school clothes with your zip code I feel sure you will find several places listed that offer this type of help.

 
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August 15, 2013

Does anyone know where I can find assistance or resources that can help you in obtaining school clothes and supplies for your child, when you can't afford to? Places that really help instead of giving you the run around.

By LOVELEELATANYA from Danville, IL

Answers

August 16, 20130 found this helpful
Best Answer

You can get a certain number of free outfits at the Salvation Army. First you have to go to their local office and tell them what you need and they will give you a voucher to take to their thrift store.

There are also all kinds of thrift stores that sell clothing for lower prices. Also you should have been watching for news items the past month or so, because some churches have clothing giveaways during the summer to help people get ready for school.

I don't know exactly what you mean places that don't give you the run around. If you are looking for free there aren't many places that do that. There again there is probably some organization that helps with a complete set of the necessary school supplies, but you are the one that has to be on the look out for them.

Another thing you can get the school supplies at places like the dollar stores. When you shop for these items leave the kids at home, because you will get by cheaper. Kids don't need all the fancy expensive items that are out. You could have been buying a couple items a month, since May and putting them away for the new school year. Actually the same can be said for clothes. There are some dollar stores that sell low cost clothes.

 
August 17, 20130 found this helpful
Best Answer

Social Services, Community action, Salvation Army are just a few places here. But if you call social services they may have a listing of places in your area. Or contact the school, they may also have a list!

 
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August 20, 2018

I'm a single mom with 4 kids in school. I'm unable to buy school clothes for my kids. Recovering brain tumor has been really hard on me and the kids. We leave in Perth Amboy-NJ. I'm unemployed. Where can I find help to get school clothes?

Thanks.

Answers


Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
August 20, 20181 found this helpful

You can contact some local organizations in your area and tell them your situation and if they can help.

  • Local churches
  • Salvation Army
  • Thriftstores
  • Post add on Craigslist or search Free Section
  • Garage Sales
  • Check Freecycle
  • Ask family, friends and neighbors
 

Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
August 20, 20180 found this helpful

Freecycle, Craigslist. Nextdoor and churches are all good resources

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts
August 20, 20180 found this helpful

specific to your area i found a lot of Catholic charities, for some reason, one Jewish charity, and other places

- Catholic Charities
4.0
4 Google reviews
Social services organization in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Address: 319 Maple St, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Hours:
Open Closes 7:30PM
Phone: (732) 324-8200
www.ccdom.org/

- Jewish Renaissance Foundation
4.3
7 Google reviews
Charity in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Address: 149 Kearny Ave # 2, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Hours:
Closed Opens 12PM Tue
Phone: (732) 324-2114
www.ccdom.org/

-Knights of Columbus
Charity in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Address: 228 High St, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: (732) 442-2998
www.perthamboykofc.com/Columbus_Club.html

- Family Success Center
Social services organization in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Address: 500 Dobranski Dr, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Hours:
Closed Opens 12PM Tue
Phone: (732) 638-5063
www.paps.net/.../Default.aspx?PageID=11165

- this website lists many nonprofits in your area. Mainly churches and civic associations. I would contact all the ones to do with education/teachers/students and of course any charity ones and churches too, and any cultural/ethnic/religious group you're associated with (For instance there's listed a Turkish Americans group on this link): greatnonprofits.org/.../page:1

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
August 20, 20180 found this helpful

It may be difficult for you to go to some of these places but most of them do have a phone number listed so you might try calling or emailing several just to see what help they can offer.

If you and your children attend a local church they would be the first to ask but usually any of the church thrift stores will give at least one or two outfits per child so be sure to ask at several.

The Salvation Army has always been very good about giving outfits to the needy as well as shoes and other items.

You might also try asking on the Nextdoor.org web site as these would be some of your neighbors and they may be able to help.

nextdoor.com/.../

 
August 21, 20180 found this helpful

I don't know the start date of schools in your area, but I would contact your children's school/schools immediately to let them know your situation. Most public schools have avenues of assistance in place to help parents such as yourself. I am sorry you are having these difficulties and wish you well.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
August 21, 20180 found this helpful

You have a lot of good suggestions here. I am going to add two:

1. Perhaps someone at your housing and social services office can help:

ci.perthamboy.nj.us/office-of-housing-and-social-services...

2. While it is not easy to ask friends and family for help, I learned recently that if you do, they are often willing to help through the Go Fund Me model.

They are fairly easy to set up and you can link it to your social media accounts. You just tell your story in your own words, add photos of you'd like and send it live to the universe.

People often know someone is of need but are afraid to insult and offer...so this tells them exactly what you need. You can ask for actual items along with small financial pledges.

It can't hurt to try. I will say extra prayers that you and your children find the help you need and that you heal! Take care!

 
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September 5, 2019

I'm new to the website and I'm just looking for help and helping the students and families at my school this year with school supplies, uniforms, and more. Thanks.


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August 7, 2019

I'm a single mom now because of domestic violence on me. I had to start over with 5 kids that need clothes and shoes for school. I'm looking for work, but I'm too scared to go too far from home because of his family and friends threatening me. What can I do for help getting school clothing and supplies?


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July 23, 2019

I need help getting school clothes and supplies for my child. Where can I go?


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
July 23, 20190 found this helpful

Ask churches and put ads on Freecycle. Ask the school social worker for help, too.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 169 Posts
July 23, 20190 found this helpful

Try The Salvation Army..... They do a lot of helping things and they also have Thrift stores in most cities.

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
July 27, 20190 found this helpful

There are many communities that have programs for helping children who are in need of school supplies.
You can Google need help with free school supplies with your zip code and see if there are any of these programs in your area. Better do it ASAP for if available they will be gone quickly.
The schools they will be attending may also have means to help or names to contact as many churches also help with items like this.

School clothes - Place ads on Craigslist, FreeCycle, Nextdoor.com, requesting free clothes. Tell a little about why you cannot buy the clothes and give their sizes.

If you qualify, you can get vouchers for outfits and shoes from Salvation Army, Goodwill, many church thrift stores. If you belong to a local church, you can also ask them for help as many churches have thrift stores or bulletin boards.

This may not be something you want to do but I recently saw a mother with 2 children sitting in chairs outside a local store with signs asking for help with school clothes - she said she received several offers in one day - one person talked with them for a few minutes and then took the children in the store and both them some clothes.
Just shows there are still good people willing to help someone in need.

 
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August 2, 2019

I'm a single father with an 8 year old son and I'm in need of help with getting him school uniforms and school supplies, so I wanted ask where do look to get the help that I need?


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August 1, 2019

My name is Amber I have a six-year-old daughter in first grade and an 11 year old son in 6th grade. I am trying to get help with getting both of them new school clothes. My daughter has to wear collared shirts, but any kind of pants. My son can wear any kind of shirt with any kind of pants.

My son wears a size extra large in boys shirts and a medium in men's shirts. He wears a size 18 husky in boys pants maybe or 20 in boy pants. In men's he wears 22-24 size pants. My daughter wears a size 8 in school collared shirts and she's in an 8 through 10 in pants.

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July 24, 2010

I was looking for information in trying to find a place to help with getting kids school clothes, nothing fancy. In march My Husband lost his job, we had to move to a different place, However school is approaching by July 27th and we have no extra money to get the clothes the kids need.

 
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