Our Mission
The mission of Clothes To Kids of Denver is to provide new and quality used clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families in the Denver Metro Area, free of charge.
Our Values
- COMPASSION To provide a cheerful, friendly atmosphere where those we serve feel comfortable and welcome.
- RESPECT To be respectful and considerate of those we serve and not question or judge the circumstances that bring them to us.
- SELF-ESTEEM To build students’ self-esteem by providing them with clothing that makes them feel good about themselves.
- SERVICE To work hard and give our best to help those we serve.
Our History
As school volunteers, Jode Eye and Marie McClung saw first-hand that inadequate clothing was a barrier to success among low-income children and youth. After some research, the two women discovered a tremendous need within their community for clothing for students, and worked together to found the first Clothes To Kids in Florida in 2002.
Gail Cerny, a volunteer serving in Colorado schools, also recognized a striking number of students without adequate clothing, which noticeably impacted their peer interactions, school attendance and ability to build self-esteem. After examining possible ways to meet this need in the Denver community, Gail visited the Clothes To Kids store in Florida in January of 2007. She was so inspired by the impact Clothes To Kids was having that she joined forces with Joyce Meyers, Lesa Butler and Mary Overington to found Clothes to Kids of Denver (CTKD), which opened its doors on September 2, 2008.
Today, CTKD provides more than 1,000 free school wardrobes each month to students from low-income or in-crisis families. The organization has built a strong reputation among schools, human service agencies, shelters, hospitals, clinics and faith communities across the Denver Metro Area, which have come to rely on CTKD to meet the clothing needs of students from low-income families.