For 30 years the 15th District PTA's Clothing Assistance Program has been providing new and used clothing to needy children who attend Jefferson County Public Schools. Many of our community's families face each new school year without resources to provide school clothing for their children. Kids today face many challenges and economically disadvantaged children have incredible barriers to overcome.

During the 2009-2010 school year, over 5,900 students were clothed at CAP. A school's Family Resource/Youth Service Center coordinator, counselor, or principal refers students in need of clothes. The referring party is responsible for setting up appointments for their clients. As a general rule, those students that are referred receive gently used school clothes, as well as a new school uniform (if required) underwear, and socks.

Most of the clothes are donated from local schools. Each school is asked to have one or two clothing drives a year for CAP. Funding for new clothing items come from cash donations from schools, PTAs, individuals and a few grant sources. Each local school is asked to send three to four volunteers twice a year to assist at the program (see calendar pop-down list below). This could include assisting clients, sorting, stocking and hanging clothes, ordering and tracking new inventory. Contact the Clothing Assistance Program at 485-7062 or 485-3535. Volunteers are needed!

CAP 2011 - 2012 Schedule (pdf)

CAP NEWS

To set up an appointment for a Prom dress, please call 485-7062. We will have dresses available until April 29th. The Clothing Assistance Program is located at 319 South 15th Street Louisville 40203. Clothing suitable for college interviews, job interviews or graduation are also available for Seniors.
 

Clothing Donations Procedure 

• Donations should be sent in boxes.  Bags rip open and the clothes get lost, dirty or torn before we can sort them.  This is especially true for donations sent through the PONY.  Those donations must wait at the warehouse until several pallets are ready for delivery to us.  Boxes should be marked 15^th District PTA CAP at Central Stadium with your PTA’s name as the “return address”.  This helps us make sure that you are recognized for your contributions.
• To arrange for a PONY pick up you will need to call Roger Mercer at 485-3362.  Please give them 2-3 weeks notice before you want a pickup.  This helps them to set their schedule. If you do not give them enough notice the clothes may be need to be stored at your school for those 2-3 weeks.
• We also ask you to fill out the form below and send in an envelope to 15^th District PTA CAP at Central Stadium separately from the donation so that we can be sure to record your donation.
• If a tax receipt is requested, please get the donor’s name and address and include with the form below and a letter will be sent to them.
• Clothes do not have to be sorted but if you wanted to make this a project for student service hours that would be great.  Label the boxes as sorted with the contents if you do decide to do this.
• Please be sure that clothes are clean, unstained and without holes or tears. We also can not use clothing items with tobacco or alcohol advertising. This will help us sort quicker and get the clothes to the racks quicker.
• If you want to drop off your donations please make sure that CAP will be open and let us know if you will need a cart or carts to bring the items in.  We will be happy to meet you in the parking lot.

 Clothing Donation Procedure Form (pdf)

Facts about the 15^th District PTA Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) 

Mission

To reduce absenteeism by ensuring that students have appropriate school clothing.  We also provide gently used clothing for all family members. 

CAP Staff/Facilities

The program is run entirely by volunteers and has been in existence for almost 40 years.  There is a volunteer CAP Director and a daily coordinator who work to assist referred parents.  Community and PTA volunteers sort and hang clothes during the year. JCPS provides a spacious warehouse, transportation of donations and more support than can be listed to ensure the continuation of this program. 

Clothing/Funding

Funding for new clothes comes from cash donations from community members, local PTA units and a generous grant source given to JCPS to combat absenteeism.  In order to maintain the success of this program approximately $80,000.00 is needed.

Gently used clothes come from various sources including drives held by PTAs. We clothe the entire household so we need infant sizes up through Men’s and Women’s in uniform and non-uniform clothes. 

Numbers

Last school year nearly 6000 students were served: since July 12th of this year over 6200 students have been served.  Several reasons account for this increase including the state of the economy, natural disasters this fall and opening up more times and days for referrals at the beginning of the school when the need is greatest. We have a target of reaching 10,000 students during the 2010-2011 school year. 

Referrals/Clients

Students in need of clothes are referred by the school’s Family Resource Youth Service Center coordinators or counselors or Neighborhood place coordinators. Appointments are made using an online system allowing the coordinators to make appointments quickly and at any time.

Students in schools requiring uniforms receive 1 new polo shirt and pair of uniform pants.  All referred students receive a belt and 5 pairs of socks and underwear. Students and their family members “shop” our family room and take as much clothing as they need for any member of their household.

We also have linens and household items for families that have lost their possessions due to fire, flood etc. 

Each local PTA is asked to send volunteers to work at CAP at least once a year.  Volunteers are asked to work 2-3 hours between noon- 3 pm on their assigned day. 

CAP is located at 319 South 15^th Street. Going west on Muhammad Ali, take a right onto 15^th Street and our entrance is at the end of the football field fencing before the next intersection.  If you have any questions contact us at 485-7062 or jcpscap@jefferson.kyschools.us. Paula Wolf, Director

            December 1, 2010 Revised