United Action for Youth to gather winter clothes for teens at annual clothing drive

IOWA CITY - With the temperature continuing to drop, officials with United Action for Youth's Fall Teen Clothing Drive are gearing up to again keep area youth well equipped with warm clothes during the winter months.

The clothing drive will be from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at UAY's Youth Center, 355 Iowa Ave.

Ashley Lindley, one of UAY's AmeriCorps members, said, over the last five years since the clothing drive began, the event has continued to grow not only in youths served, but also in overall size. The drive now serves those in communities like Solon and Lone Tree.

'Our geographic region has grown a lot over the last four or five years,” she said. 'It's been doing incredibly well.”

Mickey Hampton, UAY development director and volunteer coordinator, said the clothing drive served 410 youth last year, compared to 250 youth receiving clothing items in 2013.

'There are other clothing drive events in our community, but this one is specifically for teens. We know from experience, that young people can be more successful at school if they have clothes in their closet that make them feel good. This event has grown over the years because we collaborate with so many school staff and other youth organizations to get the word out. It is great to see a young person find something that they really love and are excited to wear to school the next day,” Hampton said in an email.

Lindley said the growing number of teens served speaks not only to the clothing drive's success, but also to the large demand for clothes among low income families.

'We have a lot of low income housing in Iowa City so there are lots of kids needing coats, gloves, mittens and other things like that,” she said.

Donations of new and gently used clothing items, primarily professional attire, jeans, jackets, coats, shoes, shirts and accessories, will be accepted from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, 3-7 p.m. Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, 2-6 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

On Nov. 17, teens age 12-18 years old will be able to pick out eight to ten articles of clothing, with parents also having the option of picking up clothes for their children who cannot participate.

Lindley said operating in a college town like Iowa City provides the perfect resource for clothing for teens.

'The college students have been immensely helpful making sure we were not only getting clothing in good conditions, but also brand clothing that's in style,” she said.

UAY also hosts a spring clothing drive for area youth.