Clothing for Confidence helps 230

Clothing for Confidence founder Madison Rolling, from left, Nicole McDuffie, Morgan Brazelle and Amy Carden prepare for shoppers at Clothing for Confidence, held at Inside-Out Ministries. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – More than 230 boys and girls will wear a new outfit on the first day of school, thanks to Clothing for Confidence.

“We gave away over 1,000 clothing items — an incredible turnout for us. We ‘sold out,'” founder and Auburn University student Madison Rolling said. For the third year, Inside-Out Ministries hosted Clothing for Confidence’s shopping day.

On July 25, parents and grandparents shopped for kindergartners to seniors from Madison and Huntsville, along with Toney, Harvest, Grant, Athens, Decatur … even one woman from Detroit, Mich.

“Everyone was thrilled,” Rolling said. “A girl told me what we’re doing seems so small to some people, but it truly makes a difference for people who (can’t) buy new clothing.”

A few families asked how they could contribute in future years.

Inside-Out provided pizza, drinks and snow cones plus free children’s books. “We were glad to share and speak with everyone,” Inside-Out co-founder Deborah Ward said. “Lots of children stayed near the food and enjoyed playing inside while moms shopped.”

Inside-Out also shared green beans from a gleaning with shoppers. “They were pretty excited,” Ward said.

Clothing for Confidence “was a fit with Inside-Out’s purpose of helping families with food, clothing and shelter,” Ward said. “Inside-Out is always interested in helping families prepare for changes in life. Children going to school is one of the biggies.”

“As an all-volunteer non-profit charity, we do our best to … offer hope through tough times,” Ward said. “Madison Rolling, Nicole McDuffie, Amy Carden and Morgan Brazelle are committed to making a difference for (the community), as they ‘grow on’ to college. They truly have grown and learned about serving others.”

Rolling thanked Inside-Out, Two Men and a Truck, WHNT, Madison Public Library, Madison Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Park and City Hall.

“I want to acknowledge the community as well. To anyone who donated, this couldn’t be possible without your support. If we didn’t have a community who believed in us, the outcome would be nowhere near what it has been the past three years,” Rolling said.