What We Do

Background and History
The mission of the Back to School Clothing Drive is to provide new school uniforms and outfits, backpacks, and school supplies for children in need. The clothes provided are those required to meet mandatory school uniform policies and other clothing policies/guidelines for the kids we serve. Today, we serve approximately 20,000 school children through three signature programs:
1) The New Clothes New Beginnings Annual Clothing Distribution;
2) Our year-round matching grants school uniform program, Student Attire For Education (SAFE) and;
3) The Stitches of Love program.

Our History
In 1967 the Salt River flooded, washing out many of the migrant camps located along the river bank. A group of women supported by “The Order of True Sisters” and other Phoenix agencies banded together to raise money to supply back-to-school clothes for the children of the migrant families. Founders Lucy Allen and Selma Shefler raised enough resources in the first year to provide 871 children with clothing. From this effort, the Back To School Clothing Drive was established.

Our Mission
Our mission is simple: We provide new school clothes and supplies to children who desperately need them. Since all of the participating students no longer have to wear hand-me-downs and are able to select the styles they like for backpacks and shoes, they also receive things that can’t be bought – pride and self confidence on the first day of school and beyond. The products we distribute are polo shirts, shorts, shorts, belts, sweatshirts, backpacks, and an assortment of school supplies. What we deliver is a greater sense of pride, higher self-esteem, self-confidence, and hopes for a brighter beginning and successful school year.

Of course, it takes a dedicated Board of Directors, a committed staff that consists of our Executive Director a Program Administrator, as well as an army of volunteers and sponsors to make these programs a reality!