St. Petersburg, Florida - Jennifer Silva, Executive Director of Clothes To Kids, announced today that the organization has selected a location for its new St. Petersburg store. Clothes To Kids (CTK), whose mission is to provide new and quality used clothing to low income, school-age children in Pinellas County free of charge, has been operating for nearly six years out of a single location in Clearwater. The addition of the second store will allow CTK to better fulfill its mission by making its services more accessible to the more than 25,000 eligible children who live south of Ulmerton Road. The new CTK store, slated to open in August of this year, is located in the Cornerstone Center at 3251 Third Avenue North, Suite 145 South, in St. Petersburg.
To be eligible to shop at CTK for free clothing, a child must be enrolled in school in any grade, Kindergarten through 12, reside in Pinellas County and in financial need. Those children who receive free or reduced lunch through the Pinellas County School system automatically qualify to shop at CTK. A child may also be referred to CTK by a teacher, guidance counselor, social service agency, place of worship or law enforcement agency (for more information on eligibility and referrals, visit www.ClothesToKids.org). Each eligible child may “shop” twice in any 12-month period for a full wardrobe of clothing to include: 5 new pairs of socks and underwear; 4 bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts), five tops, a jacket (in season), a dress (for girls, when available) and a pair of shoes.
The addition of a second CTK location was made possible in large part through a partnership with the Junior League of St. Petersburg (JLSP). The JLSP selected Clothes To Kids St. Petersburg as its “Signature Project,” a partnership that includes substantial financial, developmental and volunteer support. CTK’s St. Petersburg Store is also supported through a generous grant from the Eckerd Family Foundation.
During its peak months, CTK serves over 60 children per day, providing each with a complete wardrobe of clothing. Since its inception, CTK has distributed over 36,000 wardrobes to children in need. CTK Clearwater is located at 1059 North Hercules Avenue and accepts donations of new or clean, gently-used shoes and clothing Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. CTK St. Petersburg will be located in the Cornerstone Center at 3251 Third Avenue North, Suite 145. Those in South Pinellas who want to donate clothing and shoes may drop off donations at one of the following locations: Reno Beach Surf Shop at 1031 4th Street North and Fifth Third Bank at 153 Second Avenue South.