Pownal Kids Clothing "Free-For-All" Set For Aug. 20

By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Pownal resident Clara Howard has launched a kids' clothing "free-for-all" for town residents. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Pownal Valley Volunteer Fire Department fire house on Route 7.

Pownal Vt. - All town residents with children enrolled in a public school are invited to a children's clothing "free-for-all" scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Pownal Valley Volunteer Fire Department firehouse on Route 7.

The event is being organized by town resident Clara Howard. Town residents are invited to come to the firehouse from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and choose from a variety of donated girls and boys clothing in a range of sizes.

All Residents Welcome, No Income Eligibility Requirements

"The cost of everything has gone up so much," Howard, a mother of three children, said during an Aug. 15 interview. "School clothes are very expensive."

There are no income eligibility requirements and no one will be asked to fill out forms or divulge family or financial information, Howard said. Much of the clothing includes used items being donated by people whose children have outgrown them. Clothing in good condition is being included in the free-for-all event and Howard said she has collected a significant amount of clothing from friends.

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors

The clothing giveaway should be viewed as a community event, Howard said. Many of the people who have donated clothing have said that they sometimes give outgrown items to friends or family members or simply discard the items. Most donors were delighted to find a positive outlet for the clothing, she added.

Additional items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and other school supplies will be available at no cost during the event. Supplies of those items will depend on the amounts donated. Howard is accepting clothing and school supply contributions at her home. Girls and boys clothing items will be accepted through the morning of Aug. 20.

As of Aug. 15, Howard said she was hoping to increase the supply of boys clothing. There are items sized for teen-aged girls and boys included in the clothing collection.

Donations of second-hand underwear cannot be accepted.

Anyone wishing to contribute may call Howard at 802-823-5467. Howard stressed that people should only donate clothing that is not stained, ripped, or otherwise damaged.

"Please don't donate items that you wouldn't expect or permit your own child to wear," she said.

Pownal Valley Fire Department Donated Space

Members of the Pownal Valley fire department voted to donate use of the fire house for the event during an Aug. 14 meeting. Howard, who is the wife of Pownal Valley fire department Assistant Fire Chief and town Constable Joel Howard, said that members of the Pownal Valley junior firefighter program will assist with the three-hour project. Most members of the fire department were supportive of the clothing giveaway proposal, she said.

Family Budgets Stretched To Breaking Point

Working families and families with limited or fixed incomes are struggling with the rising cost of vehicle fuel, heating fuel, groceries, and all costs associated with daily life, Howard said.

Few working people experience pay raises as the cost of living continues to escalate significantly,and all families are stretching dollars and budgets to the breaking point.

The clothing event was designed to help ease the burden of buying school clothes and supplies.

"I wanted to do something that could help out families and help out kids," she said. "This seemed like a good idea."

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.