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the rest of this series here!
My friend Kim organizes a clothing exchange twice a year at our church for anyone in the community to come and get free clothing for their families. It has been a HUGELY successful ministry and SUCH a practical and obvious opportunity to bless people around us.
I love this “Mommy Ministry” and asked her to write some details about it for you.
Here’s Kim:
HOW IT BEGAN:
As a first time Mom, I was overwhelmed with the task and expense of keeping my daughter clothed in the correct season and size. Several other moms in our congregation mentioned that they had things I could use. So it came to mind to organize an exchange. It began as a group of Moms getting together with the things they would be willing to part with (or loan) to someone else in the congregation.
An exchange of children’s clothes grew into what is now a community event. Twice a year, in April and October, we take donations of any size or season of clothing, shoes, coats, boots, and bedding to freely distribute to the people of the church first, and the community second.
ORGANIZATION:
The fun begins on the Wednesday evening preceding the Saturday event when tables and clothing racks are set up and all the donations are brought in from their storage area.
Thursday morning, the sorting begins. With all the rows labeled, each person can take a bag or box and put the appropriate items on the appropriate tables. This generally continues all day Thursday and Friday with breaks for meals. Clothing from size newborn up to adult are sorted, organized, hung and folded.
Friday evening, the congregation is invited to come and take what they can use. Then Saturday morning from 8-12, the doors are open to the public. People can come and take what they can use without restrictions or strings attached. As people walk in the door, they are given an empty bag and asked if there is anything specific they are looking for. If there is, they are guided to that area. If not, we point out the labels for each row and let them begin the hunt. At the end of the event, leftovers are boxed and given to a local thrift store or charity, as they are available and willing to take them.
THE REASON BEHIND IT: I cannot tell you how rewarding this project has become. It allows us to make contact with people in the community that we might not otherwise meet. It allows us to meet needs without people having to ask, thus allowing them to maintain some dignity. Plus, it allows us to clothe our families for little to no expense. Most importantly, though, it allows me to do what Jesus commanded and clothe those who are “naked”. Who knows, maybe he or one of his angels have been through those doors a time or two and picked up a couple of things!
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If you’re interested in organizing a clothing exchange ministry similar to this one, click here to download more information. No need for you to re-invent the wheel when she’s already got a wonderful detailed explanation of how to run an event like this one!
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Thanks Kim for taking the time to share this with us!
I absolutely love this idea! I agree that this can really be a help to our church and our community. I’ll have to pray about this and see what I can do to perhaps start this in my church. Thanks for sharing.:)
What a wonderful idea1 I’ve wondered why more churches didn’t have swap days. You could exchange anything, not just clothes. Get the men and kids involved, too.
What a fantastic Ministry!
My church just did this for the first time. We had people waiting an hour before we opened the doors and over 100 non-church community members came. Information about our church was passed out as an invitation to all those who are seeking a place to learn more about our wonderful savior.
I love this idea and would like the information on it. The email link on your site is not working for me. What a blessing this would be to many Moms in our Mom’s group. Thank you.
[email protected]
My sister organized a “Swap Sale” amongst the ladies of her parish. Each woman signed up was to bring ten items from their home that they did not want. They placed the items on their own table in the parish hall. The ladies would then peruse the tables and choose what they wanted. Anyone could do the same from their own table. These ladies were able to rid themselves of unwanted items in exchange for “new” items from the other ladies. Whatever was left over was donated to Good Will.
I would love more information on this. Our group is all of a sudden exploding with pregnant mommas to be! THis would be an amazing opportunity and blessing.
Thanks so much
*Shay*
It’s such a blessing! I’ve seen it work again and again! Keep passing it on!
Oh I love this idea, Our church has been looking for a way to outreach to our community and this maybe it!
I organized something like this for women with only women’s clothing last year at my church, and it was hugely successful! We collected clothes, shoes, and accessories. There was no limit on what you took, but you had to bring something (even if it was one item!) to contribute. We packed up the leftover stuff and took it to the Salvation Army thrift store. Ultimately it was a great time of fellowship, and it allowed women who are changing in size (up or down!) to re-invent their wardrobe!
This is such a wonderful idea!!
Now I know what I’d like to do with all those clothes I have in my closet that I can’t wear.
I don’t know where you are located, but I would love to send my clothes for this mission, email me if I can help: [email protected]
In HIM~
What a great idea! When I was in High School my friends and I would periodically have clothing swaps–we’d bring anything we didn’t wear anymore, pile all of the clothes in the middle of the floor, and have a ball going through them and giving fashion shows. It was a fun way to spend time with friends as well as get exciting “new” clothes. It’s definitely something I’d like to pass on if I have kids.
I know March is over, but this would have worked in The Little Green Project! What a fun way to recycle:)I <3 second-hand clothes!
Oh, the treasures to be found in those piles. Wow!
We do this sometimes at our church! I love these clothing exchanges!
I found you on Finer Things Friday at Smy’s blog.
Hi,
I just came across your blog. I too am the mother of 4 boys! I will be poking around. Have a great week.
I thought I was all alone in the world of Clothing Exchanges! I was desperate to find enough clothes for my kids that weren’t rags, and even buying them from the resale boutiques and thrift stores was just too much for us. So I came up with this idea and hoped no one would think I was crazy!
I hosted my first Clothing Exchange & Tea in my apartment living room about a year ago, and it’s been a HUGE success for the women in my church. I started with ladies clothing, some mens & maternity. Then 3 months later had a Children’s Clothing Exchange & Tea. I had so many people donating by this time that I literally had every piece of furniture and the floor covered in clothes! So many moms were blessed. The people that didn’t have anything to donate would just bring a finger food to share, and that way everyone felt like they helped in some way.
It’s so good to hear of others doing this same sort of ministry. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful idea!
I just attended a clothing exchange this morning and it was such a blessing. We are going to start doing them every 6 months as well. I can’t wait to see it grow and start helping out other mothers out there. I would love to hear more details on the organization of your event as we are just getting started.
I just found this because I was doing a search on how to run a clothes closet. I have been feeling the call for this type of ministry for about a year and now am inspired to do it. Please send me any info
I recently lost 135 lbs and know how hard it is to find clothes when your overweight. I am looking into doing a clothing exchange in my town for women to swap clothes.
This is a great way to reuse gently worn items and save us all money. I would love any ideas or suggestions.
Keep up the great work
i was wishing to start this at our church can you email me the details thank you so much and god bless
We would like to run a ‘free for all’ for the community in November. Emphasis will be on giving away winter clothing and children’s toys and books. We would like to serve coffee and have the opportunity to interact with people from the community. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Send me an email (laura at heavenly homemakers dot com) and then I’ll email you back with an attachment with more info!
I would like more information on how to get started doing something like this as a project for me and my mom to do. I go to a christain school and i was thinking about doing something for the students for new school clothes for the year.
Email me and I can attach a document for you with more information! (laura @ heavenly homemakers.com)
I just sent you an email. I’d love more information about how to make this happen!
I am so glad I found this website. I am looking to start a clothes closet at my church and I think this will be a great idea. Please email me more information please.
Thank you and God Bless you,
Wendy Z.
I’ve been aching to do a clothing swap mostly for kids clothes in my community but never crossed my mind to do one at church!?!?!? We are a little church with a big heart and looking to have more parishioners so this would be a great idea and also save money. I’m a mom with a growing kid so always looking for ways to save on clothes!
Could you please send me details?
I think this is a fantastic idea! A girlfriend and I were coming up with new refreshing ideas to draw people to Christ and this idea came about. I would like more information emailed to me.
Kind regards
:)
Sure! I’ve recently made the extra information into a downloadable document. So scroll up in this post and help yourself! Hopefully that will make it easier for people to access!
This is invaluable info.Holding 1st giveaway at church with church members. Our community is low income, many non English speakers! Drugs are a community problem & I know some will turn the corner you sell free donations. I feel I should not concern about this but do. Should # of items be limited per person?
We don’t limit the number of items, but you certainly can if you feel it’s best!