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Note in the Pocket

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CLOTHING INSECURITY

National Action, Local Impact: Ending Clothing Insecurity Together

Clothing insecurity might feel like a strictly local issue, but the same stories are playing out in communities across the country. No single school, government, nonprofit, or donor can solve it alone, but together, a community can.

In honor of the 2nd Annual National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day, we brought this conversation to the national stage on September 15, 2026. Moderated by CNN’s Erica Hill, alongside The Sharing Shelf, we co-hosted 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. 

Watch the recording here.

What is Clothing Insecurity?

Clothing insecurity is a lack of clothing that’s properly fitted, seasonally appropriate, and in good condition. It’s an under-reported systemic issue that affects 2 out of every 5 children in America. For families with children living below the poverty line, clothing can be one of the last needs met, as limited household budgets often leave little room for clothing after other essential weekly expenses are covered. Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child's right to a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social development –  including through adequate food, housing, and clothing.

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THE PROBLEM

Current Clothing Insecurity Issues

Over 11 Million children living below the Federal Poverty line.
An Estimated 2 of 5 children experience clothing insecure in America.
Families can Not use SNAP or WIC to help pay for clothing.
Only a handful of States offer a very minimal clothing allowance.

The Growing Impact

At Note in the Pocket, we’ve seen the number of requests for clothing almost double in the past two years.

Students who experience clothing insecurity usually experience poverty and qualify for free or reduced lunch. In the Wake County Public School System, this includes 55,824 students, a 10% increase from the 2019-2020 school year. In Durham Public Schools, more than 65% of students meet the qualifications for free or reduced lunch.

Clothing Insecurity Impact on Children:

At Note in the pocket, we know that adequate clothing is a child’s right,[1]  and that ensuring that right is fulfilled is part of how we show up with and for children in school and our communities. For children, clothing is necessary to learn, grow, and thrive. Studies have shown that clothing insecurity impacts not only the physical health of a child, but also their mental health (Copeland et al. (2009), Callen (1992), and Cheek (1978)). Existing studies have shown that having adequate clothing is associated with children’s confidence and overall well-being, and the degree to which they engage and benefit from physical activity, especially in school. Our school social work and community partners provide feedback that consistently suggests that inadequate clothing is a barrier to school attendance and classroom participation. By addressing clothing insecurity, Note in the Pocket works with government, non-profit and for-profit partners to support children in their learning and development. The goal of our mini-wardrobes is to alleviate the painful trade-off that many families face when having to choose between feeding, sheltering and clothing their children. By providing approximately two weeks’ worth of high quality, seasonally appropriate clothing, we help students feel prepared to participate in class, build relationships with their peers, feel confident, and focus on learning and playing. We also provide mini-wardrobes to their siblings and parents, since if one person is experiencing clothing insecurity in a family, chances are other family members are too.  [1] UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 27 (Right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing).

September 15th: National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day

Clothing insecurity isn’t only an issue being faced by children in North Carolina. While our work directly supports families across the Triangle region, we also seek to elevate understanding of clothing insecurity beyond our service areas.  Beginning in 2025, we connected with organizations working on clothing insecurity in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We asked them to join us in recognizing National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day (NCIAD) annually on September 15th. We want to use the day to amplify the conversation around clothing insecurity and build wider recognition of clothing as a basic need.

Read this news post for more information about National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day. 

MEETING A CRITICAL NEED

Addressing Clothing Insecurity

Watch as Dallas Bonavita, who served as Note in the Pocket’s Executive Director from 2013 to 2026, delivers a TED talk where she defines Clothing Insecurity and speaks about how Note in the Pocket is addressing this critical issue within our community. Our hope is that once you learn about this issue, you will join us in our mission to clothe local children!

Want to Start a Clothing Distribution Program?

MAKE A CHANGE

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

It is our hope that by sharing our toolkit, Note in the Pocket will inspire new clothing distribution programs that will begin clothing children to a growing number of communities each year. There are over eleven million children in this country living in poverty. By providing quality clothing and shoes, we hope to promote the social, emotional, mental, physical and academic development of children in our communities.

Below we have shared some common FAQs about starting a clothing distribution program. Don’t see what you are looking for? Please reach out to us – we’re here to answer questions, brainstorm ideas, and to celebrate your successes!

Email info@noteinthepocket.org for questions.

MAKE A CHANGE

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

It is our hope that by sharing our toolkit, Note in the Pocket will inspire new clothing distribution programs that will begin clothing children to a growing number of communities each year. There are over eleven million children in this country living in poverty. By providing quality clothing and shoes, we hope to promote the social, emotional, mental, physical and academic development of children in our communities.

Below we have shared some common FAQs about starting a clothing distribution program. Don’t see what you are looking for? Please reach out to us – we’re here to answer questions, brainstorm ideas, and to celebrate your successes!

Email info@noteinthepocket.org for questions.

Starting a Clothing Distribution Program FAQs

Currently, Note in the Pocket is in North Carolina with two locations that cover the Triangle Region. Our Wake County location is in Raleigh, North Carolina and our Durham County location is in Durham, North Carolina.

This is a great question. Note in the Pocket has a very tight focus. We do clothing and we do it well. Having a strict focus has allowed us to grow our service numbers every year since we received our 501c3 in 2013.

How You Can Help

You can help provide clothing that will help children gain dignity and confidence in school to succeed.