Catie’s Closet–Please Give Back for the Holidays

Are you willing to spread the holiday cheer this year? Boston Tutoring Services is happy to promote organizations who help people in need. There are plenty of fantastic organizations that give all of us the chance to give back, and the holidays are always a time of year in which people need some extra help. Today we are featuring Catie’s Closet, which provides clothing and toiletries to students who are living in poverty or experiencing homelessness. 

Catie’s Closet seeks to increase graduation rates and decrease chronic absenteeism by providing students with clothing and personal hygiene items. A lack of basic resources is cited as one of the top reasons for absenteeism and students dropping out. They transform unused space inside of schools and create a retail-like, welcoming shopping closet where students in need can take as much as they need, at no cost or limit to them. A Catie’s Closet has been installed in over 80 schools throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, serving around 55,000 children in need. In Boston, they are currently operating in 27 schools and counting. 

Here are some ways you can get involved: 

Hosting a Drive – Holiday Edition: Catie’s Closet is starting a new holiday tradition that invites families to target urgent needs this chilly season. Similar to the concept of the Giving Tree, this November Catie’s Closet is starting a Thanks for Giving Day. On their website, there is a print-friendly version of the supplies that families can use as they gather for the holidays. Members will choose a Giving Feather, which has the size and gender of a child in need. Participants then donate fall and winter items associated with the child on their feather and bring them to their local Giving Center. Catie’s Closet will also be organizing a similar drive for December as well. If you are interested in hosting one at your company, please reach out to Catie’s Closet here. 

Volunteer: Anyone can schedule a group volunteer opportunity (at least 5 people but no more than 15) for members of your business or organization at the Catie’s Closet Distribution Center. They can always use help processing and sorting through donations received from the community. Catie’s Closet offers this on an individual basis as well, and you can sign up for that on their website. 

Gift Card Program: During the winter school vacation, many of the services that students access via school are closed, so Catie’s Closet gives gift cards (Target, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc.) to school social workers to distribute to the kids who would benefit from having some extra assistance while school is closed with toiletries, food, clothing, and more. Gift card donations are always greatly appreciated. 

Donating to the less fortunate members of your community is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season. Please consider Catie’s Closet for your contribution this holiday season, and give back to children in need. 

To view other blogs in this series, click here. 

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services