Mission & Vision
Clothes To Kids of Denver proudly provides new and quality used clothing in a boutique setting to Denver area students from low-income or in-crisis families, free of charge. Our vision is that all students will have the clothing they need to feel comfortable, confident and prepared to thrive.
The Shopping Experience
Our team strives to make visitors feel comfortable and provide each and every family with a high level of service. Our boutique stocks a wide selection of clean, stylish, top quality clothing in all of our departments. Students shop in a welcoming, store-like environment where they are treated with the utmost respect.
Wardrobe List
- 5 tops
- 4 bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts and/or dresses)
- 1 additional dress or skirt (optional)
- 5 pairs of new underwear
- 5 pairs of new socks
- 1 bra (optional)
- 1 pair of shoes
- 1 coat or jacket
- Extras (accessories, school supplies, etc – if available)
Learn more about how to visit our boutique on our Shop With Us page.
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.
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 hundreds of free school wardrobes each month to students from low-income or in-crisis families and 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 in need.