You often hear us describe the children we serve as “kids/teens/children/youth in need”. What exactly does that mean? This blog post provides clarity on the child population we serve and why our closets are so important for them.

Children in transition

Children in transition are those in foster care or between foster homes or children recently placed in the care of a social service agency. These children often have little to no personal belongings and need immediate access to basic necessities, including clothing, underwear and toiletries. 

Using our urgent order system, we partner with several social service agencies to ensure these children receive the items they need in a timely manner.

Children living in poverty or experiencing financial hardship

Each day thousands of children experience the burdens of poverty or a sudden financial hardship for many different reasons.

Especially in today’s world with inflation at a record high, many families endure unchanging, new or deeper levels of poverty. Some have fallen on tough times and suddenly find it difficult to meet their children’s basic needs. 

Catie’s Closet gives them free agency to choose the items they need most right inside their schools, granting them a sense of control in the midst of uncontrollable circumstances.

Children experiencing homelessness

There are tens of thousands of homeless children in the area that we serve. Some are living in shelters, couch surfing, or staying temporarily with a friend or family member. Many students live in the streets.

When these students enter school, they not only have a safe, warm place to stay during the day, but they also have free and immediate access to basic necessities to help them stay healthy, clean and comfortable when they are not in school.

Children seeking refugee asylum

It’s an unfortunate truth that thousands of children come to the United States every year seeking refugee asylum as their home countries are torn apart due to many situations including conflict, violence, persecution, human rights violations, economic hardship, weather shocks, or deadly clashes. Some children even come to the United States alone, unaccompanied by an adult.

Many refugee families and children settle in the areas we serve, but with no personal belongings, including weather-appropriate clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and other life essentials.

With access to our in-school closets and/or our emergency order system, they are able to get the items they need to acclimate to their new lives while also staying warm, safe and comfortable.

Impact on children

Children and teens experiencing any of the above named situations suffer from trauma and struggle that shapes their perspective on life, brain development, self-esteem, confidence, mental health and their future.

With their basic needs met, they not only feel relief from the burdens on their shoulders, but they can focus on their education, making friends, and simply being kids. 

This can combat the mental, emotional and physical toll poverty and other situations have on them.

Ready to help?

Donate to Catie’s Closet today or shop from our Amazon Wish Lists to help “children in need”.

Join our email community to learn more about our students and how you can support them and protect the future of our youth.