In a citywide effort to address an essential yet frequently overlooked basic need, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan officially designated Sept. 15 as Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day. To commemorate the municipal declaration, regional nonprofit Presbyterian Social Ministries, Inc. coordinated with corporate volunteers to organize and process substantial volumes of donated apparel at its central warehouse situated in the Murray Hill neighborhood.
The civic observance brought heightened visibility to the issue of clothing insecurity, a pressing hardship that impacts children, older adults, military veterans, and individuals facing homelessness or severe life crises throughout Northeast Florida. For many vulnerable residents, the absence of clean, adequate garments creates significant barriers to daily functioning and long-term stability.
At the core of this relief effort is the Clothing with Purpose program, an initiative operated by Presbyterian Social Ministries that distributes garments entirely free of charge. The program functions by supplying apparel directly to a regional network of more than 100 partner nonprofit organizations, ensuring that donated items reach individuals who require immediate support across diverse communities.
Access to suitable attire plays a transformative role in helping individuals navigate everyday challenges. By providing clean, properly fitted garments, the program equips community members with the resources needed to attend school, interview for jobs, secure employment, and protect their physical health, all while upholding their personal dignity and self-respect during difficult transitions.
Presbyterian Social Ministries has maintained a dedicated presence in the region since its establishment in 2004. Affiliated with the Presbytery of St. Augustine, the organization oversees a variety of comprehensive supportive initiatives designed to uplift struggling populations. Among these services is Home Safe, a specialized housing initiative that delivers vital residential support to 60 chronically homeless families.
Over the past year, the nonprofit experienced a notable expansion in its operational reach. During 2025, the Clothing with Purpose program successfully supplied 218,497 individual articles of clothing to 31,214 people through its extensive partner distribution system, underscoring the escalating demand for basic material assistance throughout the surrounding area.
Alongside its direct humanitarian contributions, the initiative incorporates an environmental sustainability component. In 2025, the program processed and recycled 22,414 pounds of fabric materials. This recycling initiative prevented approximately 10 tons of surplus and worn textiles from entering local municipal landfills, combining poverty alleviation with environmental stewardship.
The complexity of orchestrating a large-scale regional clothing operation was highlighted by Neil Claasen, the director of logistics at Presbyterian Social Ministries. Claasen pointed out that addressing clothing deprivation involves far more than simply accepting bags of unsolicited donations from the public.
According to Claasen, the Clothing with Purpose initiative provides the necessary infrastructure, including warehousing facilities, strict quality control procedures, inventory tracking systems, and a coordinated logistics network. These capabilities ensure that partner agencies can readily access a dependable, organized supply of high-standard garments for their clients without exhausting their own limited resources.
Claasen explained that by handling the labor-intensive sorting, preparation, and distribution phases, the warehouse team enables frontline nonprofit partners to dedicate their time and financial resources directly toward their primary service missions. In turn, clients receive clothing that bolsters their personal confidence and empowers them to take meaningful steps forward in their lives.
To sustain this extensive operational pipeline, Clothing with Purpose relies heavily on high-volume contributions from corporate, retail, and manufacturing partners. The organization regularly receives donations of both brand-new and gently worn garments from several prominent apparel brands, including Bombas, Victoria's Secret, Natural Life, SanMar, and Kid to Kid.
Teri Ketchum, the chief executive officer of Presbyterian Social Ministries, emphasized that obtaining clean clothing is a fundamental human necessity on par with food security and safe housing. Ketchum observed that individuals cannot effectively navigate society or access basic opportunities without suitable apparel, making weather-appropriate and well-fitting clothing an indispensable element of basic human care.
Ketchum also reflected on the organization’s foundational mission, noting that the generous involvement of corporate sponsors, philanthropic foundations, and dedicated volunteers allows the faith-based nonprofit to build a bridge connecting well-resourced entities with individuals facing acute hardship. She specifically acknowledged key community allies, including the Community First Cares Foundation, for their ongoing financial and operational backing.
Active volunteer engagement remains vital to the ongoing success of the distribution center. During the awareness event, employee volunteers from the Community First Credit Union Kindness Crew provided hands-on assistance inside the Murray Hill facility, sorting, inspecting, and packaging clothing items to prepare them for rapid delivery to frontline agencies.
Sam Inman, the president and chief executive officer of Community First Credit Union, underscored the significance of community mobilization in confronting regional poverty. Inman noted that simply recognizing local suffering is insufficient, calling instead for direct, compassionate action from local institutions. He affirmed that the credit union’s Kindness Crew volunteers remain committed to working directly in the warehouse to ensure that every resident in the community is afforded the clothing, confidence, and dignity they deserve.
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