Presbyterian Social Ministries and its volunteers recently observed National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day by doing what they do every day — sorting donated clothing for nonprofit partners to distribute to the needy.
At the nonprofit's Clothing with Purpose regional clothing warehouse in Jacksonville's Murray Hill neighborhood, Community First Credit UnionKindness Crew employee volunteers readied 134 boxes of new and gently used clothing to be picked up by eight different partners.
Among the nonprofit's picking up the donated clothing were Awakening Christian Fellowship, which planned to distribute the items at a Sept. 19 giveaway. Other area nonprofits that took boxes that day were Family Promise of Jacksonville, which runs homeless prevention
programs, and The 1st Step, which supports mothers.
"Clothing is one of our most basic needs, but making sure it reaches the people who need it most takes more than collecting donations," Director of Logistics Neil Claasen said. "Clothing with Purpose provides the warehousing, quality control, inventory systems and distribution network that enable our partners to access a dependable source of good-quality clothing for the people they serve.
"By preparing and making this clothing available, we help our partners devote more time and resources to the services at the heart of their missions, while helping ensure that the people they serve have clothing that supports their dignity, confidence and ability to move forward," he said.
Founded in 2004 and affiliated with the Presbytery of St. Augustine, Presbyterian Social Ministries operates the Clothing with Purpose regional clothing bank as well as Home Safe, a supportive housing program for 60 chronically homeless families. In 2025, the nonprofit distributed 218,497 clothing items, a 17% increase over 2024, and served 31,214 people, a 19% increase, through about 100 nonprofit partners.
Also, it recycled 22,414 pounds of materials that otherwise would have added 10 tons to area landfills.keeping approximately 10 tons out of landfills, the nonprofit said.
The clothing bank primarily receives large-volume donations of new and gently used clothing from manufacturers and retailers such as Victoria's Secret, Bombas, Natural Life, SanMar and Kid to Kid. Volunteers sort and inventory the items, which are provided to its nonprofit partners at no charge.
“Because of volunteers, nonprofit partners, private foundations and corporate partners such as the Community First Cares Foundation, … [we] can fulfill our faith-based mission to connect those who have with those in need," CEO Teri Ketchum said. "You can't access life naked. Clean, well-fitting, weather-appropriate clothing is a basic need, just like food and shelter. Clothing with Purpose helps meet that need in Northeast Florida."
Community First Credit Union wanted to do more than "simply recognize a need" so sent its Kindness Crew to help out, President and CEO Sam Inman said. "We must come together and act with compassion. Volunteers are willing to roll up their sleeves and help ensure every person in our community has clothing, dignity and confidence."
Beth Reese Cravey has been a reporter for The Florida Times-Union for 45 years, currently specializing in nonprofits and health. She can be reached at bcravey@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville nonprofit, supporters put clothes on people's backs
