Back-to-school season is right around the corner. But for some, the affordability of school clothes is a stumbling block.
Center Township Trustee LaDonna Freeman’s 2024 School Clothing “Kick-off” serves to mend that gap.
From July eighth to August second, every day of the week K-12th graders in Center Township can receive vouchers for school clothes and shoes, as well as free phones, provided by Constellation Wireless from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., for those who are eligible.
The school clothing program takes place on the second floor of the trustee’s office.
For the program, Center Township families can receive a $200 voucher for either clothes or shoes or split the funds, $125 for clothes and $75 for shoes.
On the first day of the monthlong event, Freeman ran a backpack give away, complete with snow cones, cotton candy and other treats for the kids.
Freeman kept the kids entertained through games like musical chairs while their parents waited in line.
“It’s just a blessing that they’re able to get school clothing and shoes,” Freeman said.
Vendors included Shoppers World, Shoe Carnival, School Zone and Schoolbelles, many of which were added by Freeman herself.
To qualify for vouchers, families must live in Center Township, have proof of enrollment and residency, must have ID, Social Security cards and birth certificates for all household members and guardianship papers for the legal guardian and meet township income guidelines.
For families outside of Center Township, there are other resources, such as the Food-tique closet, which is run by Johnnie Blue.
On the first floor of the building, the closet holds all types of clothes, shoes and food for those of any age and township.
Year-round services offer resources that lift financial burdens residents might incur during the school year.
“The impact is just being able to help our clients, our customers that come in here for any type of assistance, whether it be rental assistance, utilities, helping with burial, cremation,” Freeman said.
In addition, the office offers free notary services, rental and utility assistance and a program that helps Center Townships unhoused called “Faith in a Case,” which gives suitcases full of shampoo, soap, water and food to unhoused individuals.
Freeman said she is very hands-on with her office’s programs and often arrives early and leaves late to greet clients directly.
Mentioning a story of a formerly unhoused individual who has a job now, Freeman said, “That just makes me happy, and I’m grateful that they didn’t give up on us because we didn’t give up on them.”
Tamesha Williams mentioned the help the office offered her. A mother of four children, Williams unexpectedly lost her household’s father and her mother within the same year.
“I had no one else to run to, but them for help,” Williams said, recalling visits to Food-tique. “And when I did … they offer me help, and with that type of help, they offer, just not for myself, but for my children.”
At the time, Williams faced another obstacle — the cost of school clothing.
After receiving direct assistance by Freeman, Williams used the school assistance program to buy clothes for her children.
“For them to hold their hand out and tell me they have programs and offer me clothing, that was the most blessing I can get from them,” Williams said. “They don’t even know that was probably about the best thing they did for me and my kids so we can keep knowing that life is best, and I can keep knowing that life exists and we got to keep going.”
Freeman said stories like these allow her to see the influence of the work she’s doing.
“I have a passion, I have a heart, and you have to have a passion and a heart for this type of job,” Freeman said.
Those who want to support the programs can drop off suitcases, clothes and shoes (all of which they clean).
The Trustee’s office is at 300 E Fall Creek Parkway N Drive and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
“People want to give back; people want to help,” Freeman said. “It doesn’t cost much to help.”
Contact Indianapolis Recorder intern, Kayla Barlow, at kaylab@indyrecorder.com
