The Sharing Shelf collects clothes distributed for free to low-income children and teens
The Sharing Shelf, the nonprofit clothing bank serving Westchester County, unveiled today the results of a survey of more than 100 caseworkers at the schools and social service agencies served by the nonprofit organization. The survey illuminates both the types of clothing needed and the impacts on students of not having age-appropriate, season-appropriate, well-fitting clothing that reflects the personality of the students. The Sharing Shelf addresses the clothing needs of children and teens – from newborn to age 19.
The most needed items of clothing – cited in responses from 123 caseworkers – are as follows: sneakers, 85% cited; coats, 81%; shirts, 80%; jeans/pants, 61%; underwear/diapers, 57%; sweatshirts/sweaters,45%; sweatpants/leggings, 43%; shoes, 34%; and, socks, 20%.
How a lack of clothing impacts children emotionally, socially, and academically – based on responses from 109 caseworkers – is as follows: 88% report emotional impacts; 72% report social impacts; 58% report academic impacts.
The number of the 109 caseworkers who reported specific impacts on students with clothing insecurity is as follows: low self-esteem, 92; subject to bullying, 60; skip school, 40; impacted child’s friendships, 22; contributed negatively to a child’s behavior (i.e., outbursts), 20; child or teen did not participate in sports/after-school activities, 16; poor academic performance, 14; child has become withdrawn, 12; affected relationship with a parent or guardian, 7.
These survey results are especially timely, as applications for clothing received by The Sharing Shelf have nearly tripled over the last five years: from 1,863 in 2018 to 5,579 in 2023. While Westchester is among the nation’s wealthiest counties, its poverty rate for children under five grew from 9.5% to 11.7% from 2021 to 2022, according to Westchester Children’s Association, and over 67,000 children and teens live in poverty or a low-income home.
“Clothing insecurity is often overlooked, on the theory that as long as one has some kind of clothes, there’s no problem,” said Deborah Blatt, Founder and Executive Director of The Sharing Shelf. “But for students to perform well in school – and stay in school – they need to have clothes that are the right size, that are appropriate to the season, that reflect their personality, and they need enough of them to be clean. Clothing insecurity should be tackled in conjunction with the better-recognized food insecurity and housing insecurity. These survey results show us why.”
“The survey results are especially notable,” said Alex Gatti, Chair of the Board of The Sharing Shelf, “because they highlight the impact of clothing insecurity on students in need: 84% of the 109 responding caseworkers cite the impact on low self-esteem; 55% cite the impact on being bullied; 37% cite the impact on skipping school. Those are big percentages, and they reveal how devastating clothing insecurity can be for students in need.”
The Sharing Shelf is a nonprofit clothing bank serving Westchester County, NY. Founded in 2009, it operates a warehouse in Port Chester, where new and gently used clothes are collected, volunteers screen the clothes for quality, and the clothes are distributed for free to low-income children and teens through social-service agencies, schools, and other nonprofits. The Sharing Shelf also opened in 2024 (adjacent to the warehouse) a Teen Boutique, where teens in financial need, referred by schools and nonprofit organizations, can select their own clothing at no cost in a private and dignified setting that has the look and feel of a real boutique. In every case, the ultimate recipient is a child or teen in need – from newborn to age 19. The clothing is both age- and season-appropriate, fits properly, and boosts the individual’s esteem and confidence.
