Earlier this month, the Stillaguamish Tribe announced a donation of $10,000 to Arlington Kids' Kloset to help outfit students returning to school this fall in Arlington and surrounding school districts. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe also contributed $2,500 to help fund clothing and hygiene supplies for students in the Darrington community.

So far in 2011, close to $30,000 has been received in grants from the tribes and regional funders such as the Glaser Foundation, Weyerhaueser, Puget Sound Energy, Opus Bank, and the Greater Everett Community Foundation.

Founded in 2005, Arlington Kids' Kloset provides new and gently used clothing and personal hygiene products to students in pre-K through 12th grade throughout the Arlington, Darrington, and Lakewood school districts. The organization's mission is enhanced learning through nurtured self esteem, meeting the clothing needs of children, in a friendly, positive atmosphere.

For students whose families live in poverty, the effects of poor hygiene, ill fitting or tattered clothes, or even "the wrong clothes" can be devastating for a student's self esteem and confidence, often having far-reaching and lasting consequences later in life. The goal of Arlington Kids' Kloset is to give every child the opportunity to be confident in their appearance and secure in their abilities. By eliminating the non-academic barriers these youth face every day, they strive to strengthen peer relationships, create opportunities of growth and discovery, and affect positive sustained change.

Arlington Kids' Kloset relies on grants, donations, volunteers, and contributions of new and gently used clothing. To learn more or to contribute to the cause, contact Kimberly Meno at (360) 435-4875 or kimberlymeno@msn.com.

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