Lives Touched
First Impressions
Janelle is a 40-year-old mother of two from Madison who has been struggling to get off public assistance. Mary Ann from Janesville is a 25-year-old single mother of two children, ages five and one, who has been on Foodshare and medical assistance for the past five years. Howard lives in Appleton with his five children. The family is homeless and the mother is in a correctional halfway house for drug treatment. Janelle, Mary Ann, and Howard have each gone through job training and are eager to support their families and make a new life for themselves.
They know that first impressions count. And so does NewThreads. That is why the back-to-work clothing NewThreads receives from manufacturers and retailers is so valuable. It builds self-esteem and self-confidence, which translates to success.
Janelle is now working as a health care assistant. Mary Ann was hired as a clerical records assistant, and Howard is confident that his latest interview will turn into a job offer. Their children are proud of them, and they feel good about themselves for the first time in a long time.
A Family in Transition
Larry was referred to Hope Closet by the school district after receiving custody of his three children -- a teenage daughter, and a son and daughter in elementary school. He was struggling mightily. Although he worked full time, he did not have enough money for an apartment yet, so they were living in a shelter. They were children who had experienced trauma. Their mother was on drugs and they had been placed in some horrific situations. The teenage daughter was sullen and quiet. The other two children were somber as well. As we helped them shop in our well-stocked clothing room, they reacted with amazement. They would say things like, "Are you sure I can have this?" Larry explained that the children had come to him with nothing - no extra clothing at all. The only clothing they had was what they were wearing. It didn't take long for the younger children to begin to get excited. They were able to CHOOSE their own clothing, as if they were in a department store. And it was all brand new! They chose pants and tops and hoodies and shoes. They were thrilled with their selections and talked about how they couldn't wait to wear them to school the next day. The teenage daughter even began to open up a bit. By the time they left, she had a huge smile on her face and she quietly said, "Thank you." In one short hour, we were able to lift the spirits of these children (and their father!) by providing them with the dignity of receiving new clothing.
Not only are people receiving clothing, they are also given hope - simply because they know someone cares.
Caring for Siblings
Caring for Siblings
Sara attends her local high school. Before she arrives at her school each morning, she has to get her siblings ready and walk them to their school first, since her parents are busy working multiple jobs and still having trouble making ends meet. Outside of the typical teenage stresses, Sara also worries about having warm school clothes that she and her siblings can be proud of and that will keep them warm and focused on their studies.
NewThreads partners with many schools, including Sara’s, to provide new and stylish winter wear to thousands of students from low-income households. Sara’s family was so appreciative of the clothing items they received which are helping to ease one of the barriers of living in poverty. In fact, Sara (and many other students) even inquired whether coats could be made available to their younger siblings so they may also be protected from the cold and feel confident.
The fact the students liked the items so much that they wanted to share with their younger siblings speaks volumes about the quality of the items provided as well as the caring concern of these high school students for their families.