Back-to-school Clothing Share set for July 8

MADISON – As the culmination of Clothing for Confidence 2017, the Clothing Share sale for back-to-school clothes is scheduled for July 8.

Inside-Out Ministries at 103 Gin Oaks Court, which is just off Sullivan Street in downtown Madison, will host the sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All items cost $1 or less. Shopping is open to anyone in financial need.

New and barely used jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shirts and blouses, shoes, jewelry, accessories and many other items will be sold. Boys and girls both will find pieces of clothing that they can buy for school.

“We will have food and fun at the Clothing Share,” Deborah Ward, Director of Operations for Inside-Out Ministries Inc., said. “This is the fifth year, and we’re helping to provide clothing for students as they return to school in early August.” August 7 is the first day of the 2017-2018 school year for students in Madison City Schools.

The final day to donate clothing is July 5.

Five years ago, Madison Rolling and her friends founded Clothing for Confidence to help all children have a new outfit to wear on the first day of school. Any student from a kindergartner to a high school senior should be able to have new clothes when the school bell rings, Rolling believes.

“When I was growing up, my mother was always an advocate of giving me a new outfit to wear the first day of school,” Rolling said. “She believed and taught me that when we feel good in what we wear, we also feel good about ourselves.”

Rolling recently graduated from Auburn University and is working out of state working this summer. “Inside-Out is carrying on this summer while the girls transition from college,” Ward said.

“Clothing is one of those basic needs that we at Inside-Out are glad to help provide. That is why Clothing for Confidence fit so well with Inside-Out’s mission,” Ward said. “It helps the children and the parents. So, in partnership with C4C, we’re glad to continue.”

Rolling believes this simple level of self-confidence with new clothes “can sometimes be all a child needs to branch out, make new friends, speak up or even move outside their comfort zone.”

For more information, call 256-325-5193, email deborah@inside-outministries.org or visit inside-outministries.org.