April 12, 2018
Written by Katie Kuhn, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
Torrid, a clothing store that sells stylish clothing for women sizes 10-30, recently made a large donation of clothing to United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
As part of an initiative at Torrid stores all over the country to provide clothes to local non-profits, the brand’s Brookfield Square location donated 38 boxes of clearance clothing, about 1,250 pieces, with a full retail value of $38,244.92.
The donation included both casual and work-wear in a variety of sizes. The clothing was sorted by United Way and offered to select agency program partners to benefit their young clientele.
Pathfinders, a United Way program partner that brings safety, hope, and healing to youth facing homelessness, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, mental health issues, and crisis, accepted the bulk of the donation.
“Without a home, youth often don’t have adequate clothing for school or employment,” said Renee Kirnberger, senior vice president of communications and development at Pathfinders. “We are always in need of clothing that allows our young ladies of all sizes feel respected and beautiful.”
Pathfinders runs the Urban Threads clothing bank, which provides clothing not only to the agency’s nearly 7,000 clients, but to students through Milwaukee Public Schools’ Homeless Education Program, which includes more than 4,500 students experiencing homelessness.
“We are 100% reliant on in-kind clothing donations and financial support that allows us to buy urgent and in-demand items to serve the young people who access Urban Threads,” said Renee. “This donation from Torrid fills a very significant need that brings our youth dignity and pride.”
“We loved being able to help out people in the community,” said Christina McCanna, part-time assistant manager at Torrid’s Brookfield Square location, who helped arrange the donation. “Not everyone can afford to come in and buy clothes full-price, so being able to get stylish clothing to use for a job interview, school, or just a dress to feel good is so important.”
Other United Way agency program partners received clothes for their clients through this donation, including Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center , Meta House, and Cathedral Center. Prom dresses were donated to Cinderella Project MKE, and dress slacks were put aside for the 2018 United Way and ManpowerGroup Women’s Job Seminar.
Thank you, Torrid, for your generous donation to make local women feel beautiful and confident!
Do you have clothes or other items you would like to donate? Visit this page on United Way’s Volunteers United site to learn how you can help.