Providing clothes, Frisco Threads helps district students
Frisco Threads is a clothes closet for Frisco ISD students that provides free clothing. and is located in Acker Special Programs Center on Hickory Street.
Frisco Threads is operated by the Frisco Council of PTAs in conjunction with Frisco ISD.
The closet operates accepts sizes 3T through adult XXL to fit students in all grade levels from preK to 12th grade with clothes at either end of the spectrum the most in need according to Clothes Closet Chair Tara Childers.
There are more than 8,200 economically disadvantaged students in Frisco ISD according to data from the Texas Education Agency.
Donations to Frisco Threads are accepted Mondays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Acker Special Programs Center.
In addition to donating clothes, shoes, and other such items, Frisco Threads cash donations, or donations made through Amazon Wishlist and Walmart wish lists.
The reputation and rankings of Frisco and Frisco ISD seem to be stellar and paint a picture of an ideal place to live.
But living in Frisco ISD doesn’t present the same reality for everyone as 13 percent of families in the district are defined as economically disadvantaged.
To help combat this, the Frisco ISD Council of PTAs has created a new program to make many lives of FISD families a little easier by providing free clothes to students.
“Several years ago, council members identified the need in the community,” PTA Clothes Closet Chair Tara Childers said. “There were resources for food like Lovepacs, Fastpacks, hygiene products like Refresh, but no service in our district to help provide school clothing for the economically disadvantaged students in FISD.”
Frisco Threads drew inspiration from other school districts that had already implemented similar programs and deemed them beneficial.
“PTA Councils from other districts were very helpful in sharing how they operate and providing tips for starting our own clothes closet,” Childers said. “This research helped us develop our goals and processes for Frisco Threads.”
Council members first opened the clothes closet in mid-August in order to help families get ready for the upcoming school year.
“In the summer of 2021, we began taking donations of new and gently used clothing,” FISD Council of PTAs’ President Terri Palmer said. “Later that summer we set up the shopping room at Acker Special Programs Center and opened for our first day of family shopping.”
Not only is the facility actively working to reduce clothing expenses for parents and families, but also putting the necessities of a good childhood education at the forefront.
“We hope receiving these clothes helps give children more confidence and the ability to focus on learning and peer relationships, rather than worrying about their clothes,” Palmer said. “We also hope this provides some financial relief to families in our area that may be having a hard time.” We hope receiving these clothes helps give children more confidence and the ability to focus on learning and peer relationships, rather than worrying about their clothes, — FISD Council of PTAs’ President Terri Palmer
Frisco Threads has already made a difference in the lives of people across the city according to Childers.
“Other than the volunteers who have helped us operate the closet this fall, we have received clothing and monetary donations from businesses and members of the community,” Childers said. “This semester we have provided over 7000 clothing items to approximately 450 students and families.”
Participating in this change to improve students’ livelihood is a trend the district encourages others to follow.
“We believe each district probably has children and families that struggle to make ends meet, “ Palmer said. “If they have the manpower and community and district support to do so, then opening a clothes closet may be a good way for them to serve those families.”
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Juliette Morell • Jan 21, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Are the hours listed the only hours donations can be dropped off? I can gather quite a few items this weekend alone and am happy to donate. Some are new with tags.
Please just let me know. Thank you.
Juliette Morell
Tara Childers • Feb 3, 2022 at 8:24 am
Hi Juliette, We would love to accept the donations that you have for Frisco Threads. We are open for donations on Mondays from 9-12. Please reach out to friscothreads@friscopta.org if you have any questions. Thank you! Tara Childers