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Far from threadbare

The Clothes To Kids Inc. boutique has a wide array of fashions usually found in the mall, and prices just right for the families that rely on it. Every stitch of clothing is free.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published July 12, 2006

CLEARWATER -- Little Antonio Ramos gripped the orange T-shirt to his chest at the store's checkout area, where more clothes and a pair of brown loafers he had picked out Friday morning sat on a rack.

There was no way the blond-haired youngster was letting go of this find.

"That's Buzz Lightyear," said the grinning 5-year-old of the action figure depicted on the front of the shirt.

Antonio can't wait to wear it when he starts kindergarten next month in St. Petersburg.

Like thousands of kids preparing for the start of the school year, Antonio went shopping last week with his mother, Gloria Ramos, and sister Alexandra, 12.

But they didn't go to the mall.

They went to Clothes To Kids Inc. in Clearwater. With its funky interior design, elegant tile floor, displays, dressing rooms and rows of stylish clothes, you easily could mistake Clothes To Kids for any children's store at the mall.

There are only three things missing: price tags, security sensors and a cash register.

That's because everything in the shop is free.

Founded in 2002 by Clearwater High School alums Jode Frisby Eye and Marie Bouchard McClung, the nonprofit organization provides clothes to low-income school-age children at no charge.

In 2005, the group distributed 4,961 wardrobes, including 24,805 pairs of socks. Early projections indicate they'll give away 6,750 wardrobes this year.

Each child is allowed to pick out a week's worth of clothes: four pairs of shorts or pants, five tops, one pair of gym shorts and one pair of shoes. Girls get a dress or skirt instead of gym shorts.

Clients must have a referral from a church, school or social agency to shop. Once they are approved, they can make an appointment to pick up quality new and used clothes and shoes, new socks and underwear, used purses, hats, belts and even jewelry.

Macy's employees designed the store, and the company donated flooring, dressing rooms and some of the clothes.

Clothes To Kids is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday. Families can shop twice a year for clothing.

"It takes five volunteers every morning to run the store," Frisby Eye said. "We always need volunteers, especially in the afternoon to restock."

A former first-grade teacher at Kings Highway Elementary School, Frisby Eye said she "saw the need every day" that students had for decent outfits.

"One day a girl, Brittany, she came to me and said, 'Do I have to go to gym?' " Frisby Eye recalled. "I looked down and she was wearing her little brother's camouflage sneakers. I'll never forget them."

They were too small. Brittany's feet were hurting.

"The problem was solved," said Frisby Eye. "I told her she didn't have to go to P.E., and she was happy as a clam."

But the experience bothered Frisby Eye for years.

So she contacted her girlhood friend, Bouchard McClung, and the two pored over the Nonprofit Kit for Dummies.

They opened their first distribution site in Dunedin before moving to the boutiquelike store on Hercules Avenue in Clearwater last year.

About 97 percent of the stock is donated by families throughout Pinellas County. The organization's budget this year is $248,000. A private donor funds the purchase of new underwear and some of the new shoes.

The group is looking for a donor to underwrite the cost of socks.

Ramos is just glad the store exists. It made her little boy so happy.

"They have a lot of neat stuff," she said.

For information, visit www.clothestokids.org.

[Last modified July 11, 2006, 23:13:33]