Project Fresh Clothes gives students a fresh start

STEVENS POINT — Project Fresh Clothes gives over 1,000 local students a fresh start to the school year.

Project Fresh Clothes is a local volunteer organization that provides students with new clothes to begin the school year. The group is in their 24th year of giving back to students through new clothes and shoes.

Cathy Martin, a retired teacher, helps run the volunteer effort all year. “I have witnessed in my years of teaching children who are embarrassed about their clothes in the fall when school starts. They grow so much over the summer and new clothing is great for their self-confidence. This helps parents immensely with finances to get children ready for school.” Martin said.

The organization began nearly a quarter of a century ago when a high school student began a Girl Scout project by collecting clothes and giving them back to students in need. For most of its’ run Project Fresh Clothes ran by collecting donated clothes to give to students, but they now give students a voucher so they go shopping at local stores themselves.

Students who are in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program may qualify for a voucher, worth $20, that they can use during the first semester to shop at Call it New/Call it Antique, Nice as New, Other Mothers, and the Community Thrift Store of Portage County. 

“It’s exciting for them because they get to take the voucher and actually go shopping.” Martin said. “They get to pick out from a bigger selection, get just what they want for the year.”

“It’s incredible what it does for the students,” Martin said, “they feel more confident once they have clothes that fit them well and that they like. That helps them all through the school year.”

Martin explained that as more refugee families, primarily from South Africa, come to Stevens Point there has been a bigger need for donations to provide families with adequate clothes.

“They especially aren’t used to the climate, they don’t have clothes for cold weather like we do. And what they think is cold, is much different from what we think is cold. So we will help them throughout the year, find ways to get them winter jackets, warm clothes.” Martin said.

Project Fresh Clothes relies on donations to provide students with new clothes. The group is entirely volunteer run, leaving 100% of the donation money going directly back to the fund that provides the vouchers for students. Donations can be made all year to Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 600 Wilshire Blvd, Stevens Point. The group asks that “Project Fresh Clothes” be written in the memo of any donation checks.