LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Simple things like new clothes are something most of us don’t think twice about, but for many families, it can be difficult. That’s where Clothe the West has helped. 

The organization came to be in the summer of 2020 amid national calls for social justice. Rebecca Ward was looking for a way to show support for her community and the answer came in the form of clothing.

“A local organization gave me a bunch of clothes and so I was like let’s get these out to these kiddos that aren’t going to school, parents aren’t working the same, so I don’t know how new clothes are happening,” Ward, founder of Clothe the West said.

Two years later, Ward and her team of volunteers have provided new clothes to countless families. 

“I think that the community can serve the community and we can take care of each other in a better way,” Ward said.

From school clothes to shoes to bathing suits, whatever a family needs, Clothe the West gets it to them. 

“Usually somebody will write and say thank you so much or just somebody smiling or a kid trying on a shoe that’s too big and their parents saying. ‘We’ll save them.’ like that stuff makes me just happy,” Ward said. 

Ward says families can reach out to her on social media and drop-offs are private. She adds no one should ever feel ashamed for asking for help.

In celebration of its second anniversary, Clothe the West will host an event this Sunday at Shawnee Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Free clothes and other supplies will be given way. There will also be an area for kid entrepreneurs to set up shop.