Helping Hands: FaithCentre looks ahead to Back to School giveaway, with plans for expansion

Although there is currently a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the reopening of schools, the FaithCentre staff remain hopeful that students will be able to safely return to class this fall. Whether the K-12 crew are taking classes online from their homes or occupying seats in classrooms, the FaithCentre will hold its annual “Back to School” clothing giveaway in August.

For the past eight years, the FaithCentre has hosted a weeklong free clothing event for students. Last year, 261 kids each received three free outfits and one pair of shoes. With the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic still looming and unemployment numbers soaring, the FaithCentre is expecting the turnout for the Back to School giveaway to increase greatly this year.

Although August may seem far away, thrift store staff are already preparing for our big event. Children and teen’s clothing is being sorted and stored; fashionable tops and jeans are ear-marked for distribution in August; and only the very best shoes are being saved for the students.

This year, the FaithCentre hopes to expand the Back to School program by offering each student a new pair of sneakers. The details of this effort are still being crafted, but our goal is to either have sneakers on hand or give vouchers for the purchase of new shoes at local retailers. We are estimating that we will need about 400 pairs of sneakers to meet potential demand.

To participate in the program, families simply need to show up with their children during our Back to School week and select outfits from a designated area in the store. There are no requirements to receive free clothes other than that the children must be present. The dates for the Back to School event will be announced in mid-July.

Aside from the Back to School festivities, students can also earn free clothing through another FaithCentre Initiative. For each A or A- awarded in an academic subject (English, a foreign language, science, math, history, etc.) a student may select $10 worth of clothing from our store. A child or teen with four A’s on a report card, for example, could replenish his or her wardrobe with a forty dollar gift certificate for use at the FaithCentre Thrift Store.

We, at the FaithCentre, truly appreciate how challenging times have recently been for children and their families and wish for the speedy return to a resemblance of normality. We, therefore, want to help make re-entering class as rewarding for children as we possibly can. We welcome all area families to join us for our upcoming Back to School give-away and look forward to seeing many report cards brimming with A’s this fall!