Valparaiso, IN (9/24/2024) – Dressed for School is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from 1st Source Foundation. These funds will be used to not only provide for the most basic need of clothing, but also contribute to the overall improvement of the lives within our community. 

At Dressed for School, our mission is to provide new clothing at no cost to Porter County families in need in a supportive store-like environment. We provide these students with the opportunity to select their own clothes – all new and free of charge – twice a year. One wardrobe provides a week’s worth of clothing, including 4 bottoms, 5 tops, 5 underwear, 5 pair of socks, and a pair of gym shoes.

With the support of community partners such as 1st Source, our 2024 goal is to provide wardrobes to 1,500 Porter County students from financially-struggling families.  One Valparaiso elementary school social worker told us specifically about the effect she has seen. “Dressed for School has been such a great resource. I see the kids - how proud they are to wear their new outfits around school. They just have a bounce in their step. They’ve been so excited to show me their clothes, and you can see the confidence it has given them.”

The grant was provided through 1st Source Foundation, which works to enhance and strengthen the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the communities in which they serve through a commitment of providing financial resources. 1st Source Foundation provides support to organizations that focus on the areas of social welfare and human services, education, arts and culture, or community and economic development.