A Fresh Start Begins with Something as Simple as Clothes That Fit

Imagine your son or daughter returning to school after six months—or even a year—away. They’ve grown, nothing fits, and their family can’t afford a new wardrobe.

When youth arrive at Echo Glen, they exchange their street clothes for a uniform. By the time they leave, their own clothes often no longer fit. Some youth leave Echo Glen with only the clothes they’re wearing as they move into a foster home, group home, or back to their family.

For a young person already facing the uncertainty and anxiety of starting over, not having clothes that fit can add embarrassment and stress to an already difficult transition.

You can help by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List or donating locally.

Most Needed

👕 Clothing (New or Clean & Gently Used)

  • T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts & hoodies
  • Jeans, sweatpants & athletic shorts
  • Pajama pants & lounge wear
  • Athletic shoes (Men’s sizes 8–13)
  • Interview clothing (collared shirts, slacks)

🧦 New Only (for health & safety)

  • Underwear (boxers & boxer briefs)
  • Socks

📏 Sizes Needed

  • Young adult/Men’s Small–XXL

⚠️ Please Avoid

  • Solid red
  • Solid blue
  • Camouflage (camo)

Drop off clean gently used clothing at the gate to security personnel. 

Every donation is more than clothing—it’s a reminder to a young person that their community believes in them and is cheering them on as they begin again.

Also Needed:

Many youth do not have the support of a family or their families struggle with food, housing , and/or job insecurity when they return to their home schools. This adds to their anxiety & low self esteem. Please consider helping a youth who is leaving Echo Glen with a few items that may help them with their educational or job training plans.

Backpacks and School Supplies

We hope to be able to give these items to every youth whose family may not be able to afford them.

  • New backpack
  • 6 Pencils
  • 3 Black Writing Pens
  • 2 Red Color Writing Pens
  • 2 Black Marble Composition Books, College Rule 100 sheets
  • Notebook Filler Paper, College Rule 120 sheets
  • 2 Large Pink Bevel Erasers
  • 2 Single Subject Spiral Notebooks, College Rule
  • Crayola Colored Pencils, 12/box
  • Notebook with Graph Paper, 100 sheets
  • 3 Plastic 2-Pocket Folders
  • 2 Yellow Fluorescent Highlighters
  • a Binder Divider with Pockets, 5 Tabs
  • 3″ X 5″ Ruled White Index Card, 100/pack
  • a Bright Color 3-Ring Pencil Pouch w/ Mesh Window
  • Calculator

Hygiene Kits –Many residents will not have access to these basic items when they leave Echo Glen:

Travel size deodorant, toothpaste, hair brush, hair pick, body wash, travel bag, shampoo/conditioner; also tampons & pads.

Email to schedule a drop off time at Echo Glen or somewhere closer to you.

Benefits of Art

These kids need positive ways to express themselves. Studies have shown that at-risk kids who participate in art programs develop higher self-esteem, more self-discipline, better social skills and over-all improved behavior.  Art improves attitudes toward school and resistance to peer pressure.  It increases the development of communication, cooperation, problem solving and creative thinking.

Creative projects can open up these kid’s minds and allow them to discover new talents.  They can actually be motivated by their artwork.

Sharing art is extremely rewarding.  The kids absolutely love having their docents come in and look forward to our monthly projects.  It is therapeutic for at-risk kids to be able to express themselves through art.  For some, this is the one thing they can really succeed at.

These youth come to understand that we invest our time because we care.  Their lives are changed forever when they discover someone cares.