With 1 in 6 children living in poverty in the US, access to clothing is limited for many families, even families in our own backyards.

Kids in all of our communities are forced to come to school with clothing that is either too large or too small, not made for the current season, torn, or stained.

Access to seasonally appropriate and proper fitting clothing is a basic need that truly affects the whole health of a child, which is why the need for our services is so high and continues to grow.

Here’s how.

1. Clothing is a basic need that when met, helps set the foundation for children to live to their fullest potential.

Among water, food, and shelter, clothing is one of the basic physiological needs we all have.

When children’s basic needs are met from a young age, and continue to be met over the course of their lives, it allows them to feel safe and secure, pursue and nurture relationships with others, feel good about themselves, and become their best selves.

Pictured below is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his theory in 1943 to explain how people are motivated as he studied the development of healthy individuals.

Image from https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

You can see in this visual representation of his theory that before any other need (safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) can be fulfilled, a person’s most basic physiological needs must be met. This includes clothing.

People can desire to live a life where all of their needs are met and they achieve self-actualization, but it becomes difficult to reach that point of fulfillment without meeting the bottom-tier needs first.

Clothing seems like such a simple part of life, but it is actually critical to a child’s healthy development and his or her ability to live out a healthy, well-rounded life.

In addition to providing clothing to students in need, Catie’s Closet also works very closely with social service agencies and community organizations to connect students with other programs that help meet their other basic needs.

2. Clothing allows children to express themselves and feel confident in their skin, which boosts their mental and emotional well-being.

Whether intentional or not, the clothing we choose to wear symbolizes a great deal about who we are and the message we want to send out to the world.

For those of us who have a choice in the clothing we purchase and wear, we may choose to wear plain or colorful clothing, vibrant colors or patterns, casual or dressy attire, and so much more. The list truly goes on and on.

But, when we don’t have a choice in what we wear due to lack of access, it can disturb our sense of self and how we fit into the world.

We often say that clothing is the most visible sign of poverty. It shares a secret with the rest of the world our students may try to hide.

When children have the power to choose what they wear to freely express themselves, they have a newfound confidence that translates into nearly every other part of their lives.

They can focus on school, gain courage to try new things, meet new people, and cultivate impactful friendships and relationships with others.

These are all critical factors to a child’s mental and emotional health.

3. Proper clothing and undergarments help keep children cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and dignified and clean all year round to foster their physical health.

In our work, we see children who wear the same outfit and underwear over and over again because they do not have anything else. We see children wearing their parents’ or siblings’ clothing or shoes that are much too large or small.

We see kids walking to school in the middle of winter with shorts and flip flops or with sneakers that are ripping off of the soles or covered in tears and holes.

They come to school in their pajamas and with stains and rips from their tops to their bottoms.

Giving children appropriate clothing, shoes, and undergarments that keep them cool in warm temperatures, warm in the cold New England winters, and clean and comfortable no matter the season, is so important to helping them feel and be physically healthy.

Ready to give local children in need the gift of health?

Host a drive, donate clothing, or make a financial donation today.