We all know the difference a new outfit can make for a job interview or the first day of college, carrying a young person forward with greater self-esteem and confidence. That is the idea behind Fresh Outfitters, a store we created for youth aging out of foster care.
A young person, newly freed from the system, can “shop” in the store at no charge. They are able to “buy” clothes, shoes and accessories to help prepare them for job interviews, graduation and their entry into the adult world.
Children in the foster care system have been removed from dangerous, unsafe living situations by the court, and some have been in foster care all their lives. Los Angeles Country has nearly 30,000 kids in foster care, and 3,000 of them are 18-21 years old. When they age out of foster care they are truly on their own. Even for those who are working or in school, making ends meet is tough, and shopping for new clothing is a dream most can’t realize. The need is exponentially higher now, as youth in care have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
The pandemic forced us to temporarily close the doors of our bricks and mortar store. So we pivoted to create pop-up shopping experiences, designed just for these young people. Youth are able to “shop” for brand new clothing, shoes, toiletries and more.
All of the items in the pop-up shops are new and generously donated by manufacturers, retailers and individuals, creating a wonderful array of choices for the youth.
Our next pop-up is scheduled for Sunday, December 11. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering! We have pop-up shops throughout the year and we’d love for your to join us to make the experiences extra special for these deserving youth.
We are always in need of new items for the youth. Contact us if you would like to donate.
IMPACT
We have been able to serve more than 2,500 youth through our pop-ups. Each youth leaves with a big smile and and bags filled with new clothes, shoes, accessories and more!