By Stephanie Schaben, Volunteer Coordinator
What if you had to choose between paying rent or buying your child clothes that fit? For too many families across Wake and Durham counties, that’s a real choice they have to make.
At Note in the Pocket, we believe no child should ever feel left out or embarrassed because of something as basic as clothing. This year, on September 15th, we are celebrating National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day for the first time as an official awareness day. We are shining a light on this often-overlooked challenge and showing how communities can address it together with dignity and love.
What Is Clothing Insecurity?
While clothing insecurity at Note in the Pocket primarily surrounds children, it’s something anyone can experience. Clothing insecurity means not having the clothing needed to feel comfortable, confident and included in the spaces you show up in. It’s more than just lacking clothes; it’s lacking the right clothes.
It might look like:
• A student wearing shoes two sizes too small because that’s all that they have at home.
• A child skipping school picture day because they don’t have an outfit that makes them feel proud.
• A teen sitting out of gym class because they don’t own athletic wear.
• An adult feeling unworthy of applying for a job because they don’t have appropriate work clothing.
Clothing insecurity is a hidden barrier, quiet but powerful, and often goes unnoticed.
Why Awareness Matters
In Wake and Durham counties alone, over 85,000 students qualify for free or reduced lunch– a widely recognized indicator of economic hardship. While food insecurity is commonly acknowledged, clothing insecurity consistently flies under the radar. However, its impact is just as real.
Clothing insecurity can create barriers to employment, health and community participation for adults. Without access to seasonally appropriate, well-fitting clothing, people of all ages may withdraw socially, miss opportunities and struggle with their sense of self-worth. For students, these effects can also show up in the classroom leading to missed school days, distraction and diminished confidence.
It’s easy to overlook clothing as a basic need until you pause to imagine what it might feel like to go without it. To learn more about the impact of clothing insecurity and why awareness matters, watch Dallas Bonavita, Executive Director of Note in the Pocket, share her insights in this TEDx talk.
What We’re Doing About It
Every day at Note in the Pocket, our team and volunteers work diligently to clothe children and families with dignity and love. From processing donations to fulfilling referral requests, these daily efforts add up to make a huge difference in the community. You can learn more about our referral program and how families connect with our services here.
While the work we do locally makes a real difference for families in our community, we also felt the need to spread awareness further. Clothing insecurity is not just a local challenge– it’s a national one. That’s why we invited programs in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. to join us in recognizing National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day (NCIAD) on September 15th.
By encouraging programs to promote NCIAD in whatever way works best for their community, we hope to raise awareness across the country. The more places this issue is acknowledged, the more legitimacy it gains and the more likely people are to take notice and get involved.
Check out our interactive map here to see who is participating!
How You Can Help
You don’t have to look far to make a difference– small actions can create a huge impact for those experiencing clothing insecurity. Here are a few simple ways to jump in:
Host a Clothing Drive or Volunteer
Rally your coworkers, friends or neighbors to collect new and gently used clothes– or spend a few hours volunteering with a local organization addressing clothing insecurity. Whether you’re selecting outfits, sorting donations, or handing clothes directly to someone in need, your time makes a difference!
Share on Social Media
A quick post or share might seem small, but it may reach someone who needs help or inspire someone else to get involved. The more voices we have spreading the word, the more powerful our impact can be.
Give Financially
Donations help fill the gaps with items that aren’t always easy to come by, like winter coats or brand new socks and underwear. Even a small gift goes a long way in making sure everyone has what they need to feel confident, comfortable and cared for.
Let’s Make Clothing Insecurity Visible
Clothing insecurity may be hidden but it is not invisible. Together, we can make sure every person is seen, supported and confidently dressed for school, work and beyond. Thank you for being a part of the story we’re weaving, one thread at a time!