Catie’s Closet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides clothes, toiletries, and other basic essentials to students living in poverty right within their schools. We set up free stores in schools, giving children direct access to everything they need to attend class confidently.Â
How we began
In 2009, we learned just how much students in our hometown were struggling to attend school because they lacked clothing and basic necessities. In 2010, we took action and opened our first closet to give local students living in poverty a fighting chance. Today, we operate closets in 120 schools and serve more than 80,000 students daily.
News from Catie’s Closet
New Shoes Remain One of the Most Important Items for Kids in Poverty
In 2023, parents expect to pay over $160 for their children’s back-to-school shoes. As it is, shoes and sneakers are very expensive for families in poverty. When they consistently weigh hard decisions such as paying ...more
From Our School Partners: 5 Ways In-School Access to Basic Necessities Helps Students In Need
To ensure we are successfully meeting the needs of our students with our In-School Closet Program, we recently turned to our school partners for feedback. Although we’ve been serving local students for more than 13 ...more
