Kids4Kids collects used clothes to help children in need
According to the Pratt Institute, the average American throws away about 62 pounds of clothing every year; however, this spring, Parkway North Students can put their old clothing to good use by donating it in the Kids4Kids clothing drive.
Kids4Kids, which was started last year by several sophomores including junior Helen Oh, is a club designed to help students at Parkway North help other children in need whether through volunteering or fundraising. Since its inception, Kids4Kids has helped out at children’s homes, has held a toothbrush and toothpaste drive for those in need, and has even baked and sold cake pops to benefit organizations including Caroline Missions. This year, they are collecting clothes for those in need.
“We [Kids4Kids] are always looking for new ideas to help those in need…in the midst of volunteering…we came across the idea of promoting a school clothing drive because we wanted to have PNH [students] be more involved in lending a hand to those in need,” said Oh.
The clothing drive provides a new way for Kids4Kids to interact with the Parkway North Community while also continuing the club’s mission to help children.
“Kids4Kids is collecting clothes for the organization Youth in Need. The clothes are sold for $0.06 a pound and are then recycled for families in need while the money goes to the organization,” said math teacher and club sponsor Michelle Goetz.
Youth in Need, a non profit organization in St Louis, provides child and family services and collects the clothes in yellow boxes stationed around town. Not only does this provide clothing for needy families, but the donations also help Youth in Need to continue to provide its services. Kids4Kids is participating by setting up drop off sites in academic lab classrooms where students can donate old clothes. The clothing will then be transported to Yellow Boxes in the area.
“Students should get involved in this clothing drive because…our small actions of organizing clothes that we don’t really wear anymore and donating them, means the world to people our age who aren’t as fortunate as us. We are happy if even one piece of clothing is brought in..the most important part to this is the participation of PNH students in helping others and becoming a group of students who are more aware of those in our community,” said Oh.
To motivate students to bring in clothes, Kids4Kids will be providing St. Louis Bread Company bagels to the academic lab with the most clothing donations. The clothing drive started on March 24 and goes through April 17.
Written by Gianna Sparks, Copy Editor
