Clothes to Kids Rhode Island, in Johnston, one of 20 nonprofits receiving grants from BankRI

Clothes to Kids Rhode Island, which helps low-income and in-crisis school children

With back to school and the start of fall often a time of increased need in the community, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) has provided funding to local nonprofits to support their vital work. The bank awarded a total of $69,500 in grants to twenty organizations across the state.

Among the funded organizations is Clothes to Kids Rhode Island, which especially feels a rise in demand at this time of year. The organization, based in Johnston, provides new and quality clothing to low-income and in-crisis children in the 16 cities and towns in Providence County. Housed in a bright, welcoming storefront and arranged to resemble traditional retail, Clothes to Kids allows children to “shop” for a complete wardrobe every six months, free of charge, and by private appointment. Upon arrival, families are assigned a personal shopper to help them navigate the store.

Clothes to Kids Rhode Island was founded in 2016, and over that time, has provided more than 13,000 total wardrobes with a cumulative thrift value of $3 million to local children. Children are eligible to receive wardrobes if their family receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or if there’s a social service referral, or emergency situation. Clothes to Kids has only a few paid staff members and a dedicated team of 30 volunteers.

“Clothing is crucial for children and affects so much in their lives, especially with school. We believe every child should have quality clothes so they may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to succeed,” said Peter G. Barton, President of Clothes to Kids Rhode Island. “BankRI’s funding is critical to giving us flexibility to buy specific items or sizes we might not receive by donation.”

“There is a tremendous amount of need in our state, and with the holidays and cold winter months looming, it’s up to all of us to help our fellow Rhode Islanders who may be struggling or facing hardship,” said Will Tsonos, BankRI’s President and CEO. “Supporting the community in a meaningful way is paramount to who we are as a company.”

The complete list of nonprofits to receive grant funding from BankRI is:

• Aldersbridge Communities
• AS220
• Clínica Esperanza
• Clothes to Kids Rhode Island
• Connecting for Children & Families
• Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
• FirstWorks
• Junior Achievement of Rhode Island
• Lincoln School
• McAuley Ministries
• New Urban Arts
• Providence Academy of International Studies/Juanita Sanchez High School
• Read to Succeed
• Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance
• Sophia Academy
• South Eastern Economic Development Corporation
• Stadium Theatre
• United Way of Rhode Island
• WARM Center
• West Broadway Neighborhood Association

About Bank Rhode Island

Bank Rhode Island, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRKL), is a full-service, FDIC-insured financial institution headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.  The bank operates 22 branches and more than 30 ATMs throughout Providence, Kent, Newport and Washington Counties. For more information, visit www.bankri.com.