I always looked forward to the day that my mother took me shopping for my back-to-school wardrobe when I was a child – the excitement of picking out new sneakers, jeans and shirts – and the organization Clothes to Kids (CTK) offers that same opportunity to children in need today.

CTK brings that feeling back to many Pinellas County kids who may not otherwise have the opportunity to shop for new clothes because they cannot afford them. From shirts and jackets to shoes in a basket, they get to shop for their back-to-school wardrobe right in their own neighborhood.

Clothes to Kids, a non-profit clothing store, offers up a fun, vibrant and exhilarating shopping experience for these kids.

Developed in 2002 to serve underprivileged school-aged children, CTK opened its first store in Dunedin in 2003, a sprawling 1,200 sq. ft. facility. Serving both North and South Pinellas County, CTK soon outgrew its first facility and relocated to a 5,000 sq. ft. facility in Clearwater, which opened in 2005.

With families traveling for hours on public transportation from South Pinellas County to shop at the Clearwater store, CTK then saw the need to serve South Pinellas County alone, and in December 2009, opened the St. Petersburg store. In its first year, the St. Pete store helped over 200 families.

In its neophyte stage, CTK St. Pete was open to shoppers Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, and served 50 families daily.

To meet the ever-increasing need of the community, CTK is now open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. That has increased their service to 65 families daily, or approximately 80-230 children per week.

For 2012, the St. Pete store plans to add Friday as a shopping day, mirroring its Clearwater store. This will allow more families the opportunity to experience their motto: “Clothe a child … Change a life.”

In order to survive in this economy, Program Director Carole Bolden stated, “People believe in our mission and our cause, and when people believe, they freely give $10 here, $50 there. Every little bit helps.”

People donate anything from uniforms and designer wear to sneakers and dress shoes. Generous donations from individuals, as well as apparel stores like TJ Maxx and Macy’s, allow the kids to have a variety of styles to choose from.

CTK’s biggest contributor, the Junior League of St. Petersburg, adopted the organization as their signature project in CTK’s first year, and continues to support their growth and expansion with a four-year agreement.

Fran Goodwin, executive director for CTK St. Pete, said, “Without the Junior League of St. Pete our doors would not have opened. And the support that they have given us and continue to give … an absolute blessing.”

Regarding the possibility of a Tampa location, Bolden said, “We are developing a task force to research expanding to CTK America, but that’s our long-term goal. For now, we’re just trying to maintain both locations, and possibly branching out to different counties.”

On Oct. 27, 2011, Clothes to Kids St. Pete is holding the event “Drop (Off) Your Drawers for CTK!” at 3251 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Donors are asked to collect as many packs of underwear as possible and drop them off at the store. They’re hoping to beat the Clearwater store! For more information about the event, you can contact CTK St. Pete at 727-327-7100.

What began as a thought between two friends, Jode Eye and Marie McClung, has grown into a premiere clothing charity for Pinellas County, seeing a need and meeting it.