National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day | September 15
Think about what it takes to get dressed for an ordinary day.
Shoes that fit without pinching. A T-shirt when it’s 90 degrees outside. A warm coat and sneakers instead of flip-flops when temperatures drop. Pants that fit. Clean socks and underwear. Clothing that allows a child to sit in a classroom, run at recess, participate in gym and simply feel comfortable being with their peers.
These things are easy to take for granted. But for children and families experiencing clothing insecurity, having enough well-fitting, seasonally appropriate clothing in good condition isn’t always a given. And across the country, organizations working to meet this basic need are telling us something important: the need is growing. But so is the response.
A Local Issue, Everywhere
Clothing insecurity can look like a very local issue, a child referred by a school social worker, a family visiting a community clothing program, or volunteers sorting donated clothing in a warehouse.
But those local stories are playing out in communities across the country. From North Carolina to New York and far beyond, organizations are working alongside schools, local governments, nonprofits, businesses, volunteers and donors to help children and families access appropriate clothing.
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See Who Else is Taking Action Across the Country
Explore organizations across the U.S. recognizing National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day and working to address clothing insecurity in their own communities. Tell your friends, family, contacts to find an organization to support where they live!
Join Us For A National Virtual Forum on Clothing Insecurity on September 15, National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day. Learn more here.
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What We’re Learning: The 2026 Clothing Insecurity Report
Until now, there has been very little national information about what organizations addressing clothing insecurity are experiencing.
This year, organizations from across the country participated in a first-of-its-kind survey to help us understand the need they are seeing, how that need is changing, and how communities are responding.
Findings of the survey include the following:
- Demand for clothing over the last five years has surged. The median increase in the number of children in need of free clothing is 78%. The six highest rates of increase range from 144% to 574%.
- The number of children in need of free clothing has nearly tripled – from 54,658 in 2021 to 140,612 in 2025, according to the 15 clothing banks that track this data.
The full report on the survey is here: “First-Ever National Survey on Clothing Insecurity.”
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Bringing the Conversation to a National Stage
Data can tell us what is happening. We also want to hear from the people experiencing and responding to it.
On September 15, Note in the Pocket and The Sharing Shelf will bring together perspectives from across the country for a virtual conversation about clothing insecurity; what communities are seeing, how organizations are adapting, and what it will take for all of us to respond.
National Clothing Insecurity Virtual Forum
Moderated by CNN’s Erica Hill
Tuesday, September 15 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Register to watch the forum here.
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Here’s the Hopeful Part: Communities Are Responding
As clothing insecurity grows, so too is the response of communities determined to meet it.
People donate clothing and shoes. Volunteers give hours of their time to sort, prepare and pack them. Donors provide the financial resources that allow organizations to purchase new essentials that aren’t always donated in sufficient quantities.
Schools and organizations find children and families who need support. Municipalities and local governments lend their voices and resources. Businesses organize clothing drives, contribute funding and encourage their employees to volunteer. Nonprofit and community partners connect families with resources.
September 14–18: Take Action With Us