The Rotary Club of Edmonds recently hosted representatives from Clothes For Kids, a Lynnwood-based nonprofit organization, to discuss their impactful work supporting low-income children and families in the Edmonds School District.
Tina Nguyen, Clothes for Kids board member, shared her personal connection to Clothes for Kids. Nguyen, who immigrated from Vietnam, was a client of the organization for many years. She spoke of her struggles as a child, such as having to wear open-toed shoes in the middle of winter and not having a proper coat. Clothes for Kids provided her with the clothing she needed and allowed her to finally feel a sense of belonging.
Stories like Nguyen’s inspire organizations like Rotary to take action. Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Edmonds organized a shoe drive and distributed donation boxes and flyers throughout the city to encourage the community to donate shoes to Clothes For Kids. The community’s generous response resulted in the donation of 119 pairs of shoes, much to the delight of Clothes For Kids staff and volunteers.
Nguyen added a heartwarming twist when she revealed to the Rotary Club that she had come full circle. As a teenager, she had received a Rotary scholarship to attend college.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Alison Alfonzo Pence, chair of the club’s service committee and organizer of the shoe drive, presented Tina with a check for $1,000 from the club to Clothes For Kids so the organization can purchase essentials for the upcoming school year. The club also presented Tina with a card stating that 300 pounds of food will be donated to Harvest Against Hunger in her name.
— Story and photo provided by Rotary Club of Edmonds
