Need Help! Family in need of girls clothing and other items...

Below came from a dear friend and former colleague of mine. Just thought I would share - as perhaps you guys can help given the group generosity and knowledge of resources. Please respond directly to Kimberly below. Thanks to all for considering.
----------------------------------------------------------------

I am in need of girls’ clothing size 10/12. I am working with a family who has two students at my middle school in this size and one sibling at one of our elementary schools in this size. In all of my experience as a school counselor and through mission work growing up, I have never seen a family so impoverished. These girls do not bathe at home as they do not have hot water or even shampoo. I have jumped through a few hoops and have set up a plan for them to shower here at school, and had to teach them how to use a hairdryer. We will also wash their clothes as they only have a ringer washer. They are being raised by their father and essentially live in conditions that you would imagine as “Appalachia”. They have shared with me that they love to visit their grandfather because they can run barefoot at his house where at their house they must always wear shoes because of the broken glass. I could go on and on with stories that would break your heart but the main reason I am writing to each of you-my friends and family is for you to think of them when you might be at the Salvation Army, a gently used child’s store, Wal-Mart, etc. I have reached out to my faculty and they have been very generous-I’ve gotten new tennis shoes for them, I will provide them with winter coats, and we just purchased Halloween costumes for them (last year they took paper bags and taped them to their arms and pretended they were bats). I will also be able to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, and toys at Christmas. However, these girls are in desperate need of the basics-socks-size 7, bras (32A), underwear, and clothes. If you see something on sale I would be very grateful of a donation (as would they-they truly are sweethearts). Please also know that this will be a continuous need so even if you aren’t able to help out immediately, I am certain they will need items throughout the year/s.
Thanks for considering,
Kimberly

Kimberly O. Warnick, M.Ed
School Counselor
Henley Middle School
5880 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
Crozet, Virginia 22932
kwarnick@[B]@k12albemarle.org[/B]

 

I sent this message out to my huge network of people that donate whenever I arrange drives for families in need. If anyone has anything to donate, I can certainly act as a central point of contact for our area. I sent a message directly to the gal Kimberly that works for the school these girls go to, so hopefully we can get something coordinated! Please PM me if you have anything you want to donate!

Thanks.

 

Thank you!!!

 

I spoke to the guidance counselor that is helping this family, and they actually had such a good response for the first family, that they now have a second family with 5 children that are in dire need of clothing. They are living with their Great Aunt and Great Grandmother who also need clothes. If you'd like to donate either clothing, money, or gift cards, please PM me. Please make sure the items are in like-new condition. The children are getting ridiculed terribly at school, and they need to be wearing clothing that helps them blend in (one of the middle school boys showed up at school this week wearing pink tennis shoes). Their school is largely middle to upper class. (These children are bathing at school.) I am also assuming pajamas for the kids would be appreciated, too. With winter coming, that would probably be nice, as would a few blankets perhaps. Here is a list the counselor sent me:

Girl: 8 years old
Shirt: children size 16
Pants: children size 16
Shoe: girl’s 1 1/2 – 2
Underwear: Same size as pants
Favorite color:

Girl: 9 years old
Shirt: children’s size 7/8
Pants: children’s size 7/8
Shoe: girl’s size 1 1/2
Underwear: Same size as pants
Favorite colors: Purple and Blue

Girl: 10 years old
Shirt: children’s size 7/8
Pants: childeren’s size 7/8
Shoe: ?

Boy: 11 years old
Shirt: children’s size 12
Pants: children size 10-12
Shoe: boy’s 6
Boxers: Men's small
Favorite Color: NA
Loves Basketball and football

Boy: 13 years old
Shirt: 14/15 husky
Pants:16 husky or a 29
Shoe: Men’s 11 ½
Boxers: Men's XL
Loves Virginia Tech

Adults in home

Female
Shirt: Adult Med
Pants Adult Med
Shoe: girl’s size 1½ (I questioned this and she assured me she wears a children’s size 1 ½)
Favorite Colors: Blue and Purple

Female
Shirt: Adult Large
Pants: Adult Large
Shoe 7 ½ adult
Favorite Color: Any dark color, does NOT like white

Thank you all for your support. PM me if you have any further questions or need directions to my house for drop off. I will be coordinating getting all items to their counselor in Charlottesville.

 

Ugh! I just donated a bunch of girls clothing to NCC, but I will keep this in mind for next time. I taught in Albemarle Co for 1 year while we lived in Charlottesville, and I can attest to some of the living conditions some of the children in and around the area are being raised. Very sad!

 

Good to know. My Girl Scout troop is getting some stuff together - I'll be sure to pass on the additional sizes.