“I wish my Esen were able to write to you herself, but unfortunately at 15 she is unable to pick out her own clothes, nor give me all the headaches that come with teenage years. She”™s disabled with a seizure disorder and mental retardation, but if she could write to you herself, I know how appreciative she would be. So, truly from the bottom of my heart I thank you. You”™ve helped a big but little girl to look pretty and be warm and comfortable as she starts school. Feel proud for your time, effort and generosity. Thanks a million!”
That letter is the result of the efforts of Connie Kennedy to bring good clothes to kids in Putnam and Westchester counties who need them and who need them critically right now before the first school bell of the year rings.
Kennedy by day is director of field support for the sales division for Purchase-based TAL International Container Corp., a shipping container company for which she went to work a year out of Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers and with which she has remained nearly four decades. She says of her first day as the 17-year-old secretary to the company”™s general counsel, “I was terrified.”
She offers praise for TAL: “It”™s a great company. Rare is the day in those 39 years when I did not enjoy coming to work.”
She reels off a list of cities with TAL offices: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, London, Antwerp, Hamburg, Houston, San Francisco, Cranford, N.J., and Miami, noting Sydney is the only office she has not visited. “I love the international aspect of dealing with offices throughout the world.”
A 1986 New York Times story and subsequent letter to the editor about children living in bug infested and vice-riddled hotels spurred her to action on the simple idea that a clean, new set of clothes would mean so much to these kids.
Kennedy wrote friends, family and coworkers asking for $10 with the goal of buying 10 underprivileged youths back-to-school clothes. She reached her goal. The next year, 1987, Kennedy’s brainchild outfitted 25 children with new jeans, slacks, blouses and shirts. Then came a sit-down with the Westchester Business Volunteer Council.
Kennedy”™s vision and gumption dovetailed with the enthusiasm of the council ”“ “We still are taken on by them as their summer program” ”“ to kick Kennedy”™s early numbers into the stratosphere. To date, her Back-to-School Clothes for Kids nonprofit has outfitted 13,000 youths in Putnam and Westchester.
She says, “One reason it snowballed is: Rare is the person who does not remember what it was like to start school with something new.
“And for some people, the opposite of having something new is the motivator. They remember what it was like not to have something new and they remember being embarrassed or ashamed of how they looked.”
The organization is volunteer. A part-time office worker in July and August ”“ “the busy season” ”“ is the only paid help.)
The program works simply and beautifully. It costs about $200 for three sets of clothes, plus shoes, socks, underwear and outfitted backpack. Donors do the shopping; Back-to-School Clothes for Kids does the organizational heavy lifting, assisted by 13 referring agencies.
A company, a family or an individual contacts Back-to-School Clothes. They are given a child”™s profile with size and color preferences. A bold red stamp reads: Please don’t forget the Backpack. A second list is titled “What school supplies do I buy for a child?” Youths 12 and older are given $175 to shop for themselves at the White Plains Galleria or the Jefferson Valley Mall, accompanied by volunteers and with marching orders, to quote Kennedy: “No jewelry and no silk boxers.” Kennedy cites Galleria and Jefferson Valley Mall stores Sears and Foot Locker as furthering the purchase power of the $175 with added discounts.
Kennedy offers several ways to help:
”¢ Request a profile (“or two, or five, or 10”);
Ӣ Donate funds for teen shopping nights;
Ӣ Get your company to host a teen shopping night with company employees serving as shopping volunteers; and
Ӣ Hold a backpack and supply drive.
Shawn, who authored the next paragraph, knows how Kennedy”™s idea works on a personal level:
“My name is Shawn and I’m 15 years old. I will be starting high school this year. I would like to thank you for buying these clothes for me. It”™s the first time anyone has given me a variety of clothes to wear when I really need it. I appreciate it a lot. Thanks again for the clothes.”
The Web site is www.backtoschoolclothes.org. The phone number is (914) 576-6053.
