Uniform closet: what are your policies?

[Anonymous]

I've volunteered to manage the uniform closet at our neighborhood Title I DCPS. Just wondering what people have found to be best practices. I ask around for clothing, wash and sort by size, bring back to the school, and then just give it to whomever asks? Should there be a per-kid limit (say, 4 items) so that more families can be served? Any other tips?

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on need. A low income family will need way more than four outfits. I would either do it for everyone as a trade in program or start with lower income (without asking) and if there is extra offer it to all with limits

[Anonymous]

Our uniform bank uniforms were donated by one of our community partners. If your school has community partners (usually corporations - ours is a law firm), they can usually get good bulk deals right before school starts. Old Navy, Children's Place, Gap, etc. will all have them.

The policy is that if kids come out of uniform, they have to go get one from the uniform bank. If families need assistance getting uniforms, they can speak to the front office and get some out of the bank. I don't know how many times either of those things have happened this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our uniform bank uniforms were donated by one of our community partners. If your school has community partners (usually corporations - ours is a law firm), they can usually get good bulk deals right before school starts. Old Navy, Children's Place, Gap, etc. will all have them.

The policy is that if kids come out of uniform, they have to go get one from the uniform bank. If families need assistance getting uniforms, they can speak to the front office and get some out of the bank. I don't know how many times either of those things have happened this year.

OP here-- that is genius! How are the bulk deals obtained? Through Gap Foundation or something similar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our uniform bank uniforms were donated by one of our community partners. If your school has community partners (usually corporations - ours is a law firm), they can usually get good bulk deals right before school starts. Old Navy, Children's Place, Gap, etc. will all have them.

The policy is that if kids come out of uniform, they have to go get one from the uniform bank. If families need assistance getting uniforms, they can speak to the front office and get some out of the bank. I don't know how many times either of those things have happened this year.

OP here-- that is genius! How are the bulk deals obtained? Through Gap Foundation or something similar?

Maybe, though our partner in this case just took advantage of the same sales we were all taking advantage of - BOGO, buy 3 get the 4th free, etc. Actual uniform stores might have even better discounts. You might also look at those companies that people use to print corporate polos and see if they make children's sizes. Otherwise, stay tuned for the sales that usually kick in during the summer. They will be pretty hard to miss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on need. A low income family will need way more than four outfits. I would either do it for everyone as a trade in program or start with lower income (without asking) and if there is extra offer it to all with limits

Thanks. I know it's nowhere near enough, but as we're starting the uniform bank from scratch I just don't think it will be possible to supply what people actually need. I was going to do lower income people can pick X number of things, and then after everyone has had a few weeks to make their requests, let people take more from what's left. I thought it would be better to give a few things to many people, rather than a lot to the first few who ask.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would also make clear that people should feel free to donate uniforms at any point in the year. My kid is just moving out of 3 year old clothes and into 4 year old clothes, so I will soon have a bunch of uniforms to donate to the school, and the people who are getting free uniforms from you now should be able to donate them back when they no longer fit their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on need. A low income family will need way more than four outfits. I would either do it for everyone as a trade in program or start with lower income (without asking) and if there is extra offer it to all with limits

Thanks. I know it's nowhere near enough, but as we're starting the uniform bank from scratch I just don't think it will be possible to supply what people actually need. I was going to do lower income people can pick X number of things, and then after everyone has had a few weeks to make their requests, let people take more from what's left. I thought it would be better to give a few things to many people, rather than a lot to the first few who ask.

PP here. A couple questions:

1. Does your school have laundry machines on premises? Our does, which makes things like uniform drives and coat drives and such a lot easier for families.
2. Does your school have a uniform swap? Obviously some families have more than one child at the school, but many families would probably be happy to swap out their kindergarten uniforms for first grade ones. I'm planning on organizing one swap in June before school lets out and one in August when school starts. We will try to augment the August swap with some new uniforms, while still maintaining the bank.

Do not underestimate the need to have uniforms that kids can put on if they come to school without or something happens to their uniform at school. Keep a few things of each grade level in a bank if you can for such emergencies.

[Anonymous]

I would have conversation with your school social worker/psychologist about how they work with families to identify the need for services and support. When I was on the PTA at our old school we tried to put some separate between parents - even when volunteering - and families in need to give those families some privacy. While we had a volunteer who stocked, sorted, cleaned it was a staff person and teachers who figured out who needed what.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- thanks everyone. Very helpful insights. I think it's a great idea to let kids draw from the bank if their uniform gets messy during the day-- and maybe also make it more of a normal thing to use the free uniforms.

For privacy, I agree it is great to have a school staff person determine who needs what. Would this be an appropriate responsibility for the school social worker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-- thanks everyone. Very helpful insights. I think it's a great idea to let kids draw from the bank if their uniform gets messy during the day-- and maybe also make it more of a normal thing to use the free uniforms.

For privacy, I agree it is great to have a school staff person determine who needs what. Would this be an appropriate responsibility for the school social worker?

PP here on privacy - it was our school social worker who did it with one of the aides from the PK3 class who knew EVERYONE.

[Anonymous]

OP, does your school have a parent liaison? He or she might be a good person to check in on this. I believe that is who divvies up uniforms at our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-- thanks everyone. Very helpful insights. I think it's a great idea to let kids draw from the bank if their uniform gets messy during the day-- and maybe also make it more of a normal thing to use the free uniforms.

For privacy, I agree it is great to have a school staff person determine who needs what. Would this be an appropriate responsibility for the school social worker?

Our school has a "parent coordinator" who fills this role. He is bilingual and is the one who takes care of all aspects of this other than organizing the swap and talking to the partners about getting uniforms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here-- thanks everyone. Very helpful insights. I think it's a great idea to let kids draw from the bank if their uniform gets messy during the day-- and maybe also make it more of a normal thing to use the free uniforms.

For privacy, I agree it is great to have a school staff person determine who needs what. Would this be an appropriate responsibility for the school social worker?

PP here on privacy - it was our school social worker who did it with one of the aides from the PK3 class who knew EVERYONE.

Absolutely it was the school social worker at our school, even if teacher accompanied or someone else it was all cleared with social worker first. Messing up your uniform though at school is different.

[Anonymous]

You be surprised at the Dollar Store and what they can do in regards to uniforms. We have inquired with our local Dollar Store Manager to see about if they could purchase shirts, sweaters and pants from manufacturers and we hit pay dirt. It was an one time deal...but we were able to purchase over 200 sets of uniform items in various sizes for $200.00. At our high-school we were fortunate to have a local utility company provide uniform cardigan style sweaters for about 30 students...although it had the utility company's logo on the sleeve but the preferred navy blue color was spot on.