CHILDREN AND TEENS’ CLOTHING NEEDS INCREASE

The Sharing Shelf, the nonprofit clothing bank serving children and teens in need in Westchester County, announced that it has provided clothing for 6,764 children and teens in 2024. That number reflects the 5,805 children who were served through the clothing bank and 959 teens who received clothing from the Teen Boutique.

The total number represents an increase of 23% from 2023, and the need for clothing continues to grow. In the first three weeks of 2025, requests for clothing have grown 145% over the same period in the previous year – from 178 requests in 2024 to 437 in 2025.

While Westchester is among the nation’s wealthiest counties, its poverty rate for children under five was 11.1% in 2023, according to the Westchester Children’s Association. More than 67,000 children and teens live in poverty or a low-income home in Westchester.

“Clothing insecurity is often overlooked, on the assumption that as long as one has some kind of clothes, there’s no problem,” said Deborah Blatt, founder and executive director of The Sharing Shelf. “But for students to perform well in school – and stay in school – they need to have clothes that are the right size, that are appropriate to the season, that reflect their personality, and they need enough of them to be clean. The need is great in Westchester, and growing. The Sharing Shelf plays a crucial role in addressing clothing insecurity countywide.”

Founded in 2009, The Sharing Shelf operates a warehouse in Port Chester, where new and gently used clothes are collected, volunteers screen the clothes for quality, and the clothes are distributed free to low-income children and teens through social-service agencies, schools and other nonprofits.