Appropriate Clothing for All School Children has helped 142 children since the program's inception in April 2003, thanks to 57 partners including school, church and youth groups along with social and civic clubs, businesses, individuals and families.

More partners are needed to help keep the program running, organizers say. The goal is to help children who have worn clothing, ill-sized clothing or clothes inappropriate for the weather.

Some of the children's parents are experiencing temporary financial hardship, but Project AFCASC allows them to get new clothing, purchased just for them, helping boost their confidence, officials said. New clothing can help children "fit in" with their peers.

Partners participate by shopping for a particular child, armed with the child's age, sizes and first name. The items are dropped off with a project coordinator, who forwards the clothing to the referral source, who then passes the items to the child.

The process is confidential and takes about seven to 10 days, organizers said.

Children are primarily referred by school counselors, but other referrals come from DFCS staff, in addition to private and public pre-school programs.

Partners have reported satisfaction with being able to help through the program, and those providing referrals are glad to see the children get assistance. Some partners have enlisted the help of others while shopping for children in the program.