Year after year, kids get bigger. But their clothes don’t. That makes things expensive for parents, especially during winter.
D.C.-area parents are trying to change that.
Through a Facebook group established in Northwest D.C.’s Takoma neighborhood, parents can swap kids’ clothing they no longer need.
“It’s just another way to be connected to the neighborhood and area moms,” said Alexandra Simbana, a D.C. mom and one of the administrators of the Facebook group.
Sometimes items are for sale, but they’re usually given away for free.
If parents in the group are looking to donate, they’ll post their item with the acronym “F.F.P.P.U” or “Free for Porch Pickup.”
“It’s actually just been helpful to try and push out things for my home,” Simbana said.
“Just trying to make sure that things that they either didn’t use very much or never got to use at all get another life with another family, another kid,” she said.
Items range from jackets and snow boots to toys and snow suits.
D.C. nonprofit hosts free clothing room
If parents need winter clothing for themselves or their children, Bread for the City, a D.C.-based nonprofit, is another option.
“We want to be here for community members living on lower incomes, so they can stay warm just like the rest of us. And often times, they have to go out to work or their kids have to go to school, so it’s important for us to support community members in need,” Bread for the City CEO George Jones said.
The nonprofit hosts a free clothing room at their Southeast D.C. location. In light of the government shutdown and temporary freeze on SNAP benefits, the organization says they’ve seen a spike in visits over the past few months.
With an incoming snowstorm expected to hit the D.C. area this weekend, Bread for the City says they need all the donations they can get.
“Even if we could see folks tomorrow or friday, that would be great. Anybody that’s got clothes they want to donate, particularly warm clothes for kids and their parents, we’d be happy to take ’em,” Jones said.
Donators can visit Bread for the City’s website, or stop by their Southeast location to make a clothing donation.
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