CHIMACUM — The eighth annual Back to School Clothes Swap at Chimacum Elementary School is underway, with donations being accepted today and Friday and “shopping” coming Saturday.
Thousands of gently used clothing items will be available during the event at the Chimacum Schools’ elementary multipurpose building, 91 West Valley Road.
“Kids grow out of their clothes very fast,” said Elma Beary, who organizes the annual event. “We just wanted to be sure parents didn’t have to spend a fortune to clothe them for the next year.”
Those who donate items will be given a coupon saying how many items they can come back and take Saturday.
People can bring clean, ready-to-wear clothing size 5 to 16 — as well as shoes, backpacks and other items — to the multipurpose building today from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
People will have the chance to shop with their coupons from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Additional items can be purchased for $1 each.
“The program works well,” she said. “Otherwise, [parents] would have to go to the mall and tear their hair out as their kids want everything on the racks.”
What seems to go quickly each year are the winter coats and jeans, Beary said, adding that they seem to be what’s needed most.
“We need more jeans,” she said. “The boys wear out their jeans incredibly fast.”
They’ve already got numerous sweaters left over in the school’s lost and found, she said.
Once the swap is finished, Beary said, the school gives the leftover clothes to a foster program so nothing goes to waste.
She asked people not to bring in dirty clothes or items with holes for the swap.
While at the clothing swap, parents can buy grade-specific school supply kits for their students for $12 each, she said.
There will be a limited number of the kits available.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5550, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
