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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - About four years ago someone asked Stephanie Roth of New Rochelle if she had an extra stroller for a mother who carried her child a mile to the early childhood center where Roth volunteered. She didn't. After a couple of phone calls and 24 hours, there were four strollers on Roth's front steps.
Eventually Roth amassed garbage bags full of clothes, baby supplies, and shoes for needy Westchester families. Three weeks ago the Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJSC) helped her transition her homegrown operation into the Pass It On Kids Kloset now open in downtown White Plains.
"The bags were piling up on my steps with clothes, car seats, strollers," said Roth, the Kids Kloset coordinator. "My dining room got crazy. I was worried about what the neighbors would think. Then the WJSC asked me if I'd do this as a service."
During the summer the 170 East Post Rd. closet will be open for a few hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Roth hopes to have a formal opening by September and extend the Kids Klosets hours to include three weekdays, Sundays, and an evening shift for those busy during the work week.
Religious leaders, social workers, teachers, and other community figures have referred about 20 families to the closet so far. Roth then gives the clients sizes to her fashionista volunteers who assemble a weeks worth of shoes and outfits to send to the families.
Within the closets first year Roth hopes to transition to a system where families can come with a form verifying their needs and use it like a prescription to pick out their own attire. Streamlining the delivery time will help Roth serve more Westchester kids under 18.
The thing about Westchester is 12 percent of the population ages zero to 18 are living below the poverty line. Everyone thinks were so affluent and that every kid has an iPod Touch, and were not, said Roth, a mother of two.
Schools lost and found attire has proved fruitful for the Kids Kloset crew, which has collected pounds of washed clothing from local PTA members. Word of mouth has gotten churches, synagogues, and book clubs involved. One woman even asked guests to bring clothing donations to her barbecue instead of fruit or meat.
Every time I get an email about donations Im surprised at how fast the news had spread, said Roth, who also volunteers at a Head Start program in downtown White Plains, with her Beth El Synagogue, and with Hadassah, a Jewish womens organization. [Kids Kloset] means less stress for the parents because its one less thing to worry about. For kids it really helps build confidence because now theyre walking around in fresh, clean, clothes that fit.
Greta Berenbaum, a volunteer at Kids Kloset, said raising three boys has made her savor picking out girls' clothes and the store and appreciating the kids' reactions to their new attire.
I have three of my own kids so I know if they didnt have the Nike pants and the right kind of shirt to wear theyd feel like outcasts, said Berenbaum.
Interested in helping out? Kids Kloset is always looking for volunteers, hangers, shelves, storage bins, shoes, and new or gently used clothing. Items needed the most include: unopened diaper packages, wipes, new bottles and sippycups, and new underwear for children of all ages. For more information contact Stephanie Roth at (914) 761- 0600 ext. 715 or at kidskloset@wjcs.com.
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