North Idaho Clothing Exchange opens for needy teens
For Release: November 18, 2009
Contact: Karlene Behringer/Emily Carroll 208.640.3183
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho—Foster kids and at-risk youth in north Idaho will have a new source of support from a local fourteen year old business owner.
The North Idaho Clothing Exchange, also known as NICE, is the brainchild of 14-year-old Lake City High School freshman Emily Carroll. NICE is a not-for-profit organization that collects and distributes new and gently used clothing to foster children and at-risk youth who live in the Coeur d’Alene area. Compassion for the foster care teens and college-aged kids in her school district caused her to create this cost-free clothing program.
In discussing the purpose of her organization Emily stated, “My goal is to give foster kids and at-risk youth in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, and the surrounding areas the opportunity to obtain trendy new or gently used clothing free of charge. I know there are a lot of foster kids who have had their lives turned upside down. I also know that their resources are limited so they do not have much money to buy fun things like clothes. Because of the situation they are in, there is no way that they can afford to shop at Aeropostale, Hollister or other trendy stores—even though they wish they could. To me, it doesn’t make sense why my friends and I can go buy something at Aeropostale but a foster kid or a homeless kid can’t. They didn’t do anything wrong. It just doesn’t seem fair. I decided to develop my own organization because I thought it would be a good idea to give foster kids and at-risk kids a chance to do something fun, not worry about money, and be able to shop for the cool clothes that they like.”
NICE has received donations from the community as well as national corporations. The largest donor, the Aeropostale Corporation, has recently sent a significant amount of new clothing and accessories for distribution. Emily noted that she was surprised at the amount of clothing she received from the Aeropostale Corporation and was committed to distributing the clothing to area youth in time for Christmas.
Brandi Smitherman, Program Director of Project Safe Place and Independent Living division of Volunteers of America offered Emily space to distribute the clothing at Project Safe Place’s drop-in center, which is located in the basement of the former Coeur d’Alene public library.
“This clothing is a great addition to the services at Project Safe Place. When youth come to get a winter coat or new shoes, they can also get a meal, help with homework or advice about problems at home or school. Also, the clothing closet will be open the first and third Wednesday of each month—which is when our street outreach team is connecting with homeless, runaway, and other at-risk youth in the area. All in all, it’s a great partnership.”
The Grand Opening of NICE is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. Regular distribution hours will take place on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Project Safe Place in the basement at 201 E. Harrison, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, (208) 667-3340. If you would like make a donation or learn more information about NICE, please contact a representative at (208) 640-3183.
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