The Sharing Shelf

Westchester's Clothing Bank
for Children

The Sharing Shelf was founded to address clothing insecurity in Westchester County.

Clothing is a basic essential that we need to participate in our daily lives. Yet, across our community, many children and teens lack access to sufficient and appropriate clean clothing. They also lack every day necessities such as socks, underwear, a winter coat or shoes that fit. As a result, they often miss school. Nearly 14% of Westchester children are chronically absent from school and clothing is one critical cause. When they are in school, clothing insecure children are more likely to endure bullying and suffer from low self-esteem. Chronic absenteeism and low self-esteem negatively impact a child’s academic success and, by high school, these students are more likely to drop-off, with lifelong economic, social and emotional consequences. Sadly, clothing insecurity disproportionately impacts children of color.