As a Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) volunteer, Cathy Hamilton noticed children’s shoes falling apart and jackets missing in the winter. One kid described digging through boxes of dirty, decades-old clothing, hoping never to have to do it again. For a while, Cathy thought, How can this be ok? Everyone knows that’s how these kids are getting their clothes. Why isn’t anyone saying something? Feeling strongly that “Everyone deserves something new to wear,” Cathy realized she needed a better way to get them proper clothing.
Before starting San Antonio Threads 10 years ago, Cathy spent a year researching and calling clothing closets in other states to learn how they worked. Cathy wanted kids to have a typical shopping experience, with racks full of new clothing and outfits on mannequins. After getting enough donations through companies, non-profits, and the community, Threads began serving 25-50 shoppers a month, ages 12-21. The shoppers are in (or have recently aged out of) foster care, are experiencing homelessness, are survivors of trafficking, or lack access to a district-sponsored clothing closet. Adults familiar with the teenager’s situation can fill out an application to shop at Threads. Organizations like Haven for Hope can also refer teens. After three years, Threads started seeing 300-500 shoppers a month. These days, their busiest months are June-August, for back-to-school shopping. Cathy reported that about 3,000 kids shopped at Threads this summer.
Threads fills the store with brand-new apparel in various ways. Companies like Good360 help Threads purchase name-brand items at a steep discount. Every year, local Vans stores donate about 1,300 pairs of returned shoes in new condition. Bombas has provided free socks for the last seven years. Ross and HEB contribute gift cards, and local businesses and schools also host clothing drives that help fill Threads with new items.
Cathy said that most teens are shy when they first walk into Threads, so volunteers gently guide them through the shopping experience. “It might be on their worst day. Sometimes they’ve just been removed from their home.” Those are the ones Cathy likes shopping with the most. She tells them, “This is a safe place, and we’re going to have a good time.” Before they start shopping, they fill a backpack with hygiene items like deodorant and hairbrushes. Then they go to the clothing area, set up like a typical department store. They pick out two full outfits, including two tops, two bottoms, one jacket, one package of underwear, one package of socks, and one pair of shoes. Girls also shop for bras, and accessories like makeup, jewelry, hats, and belts are available.
Cathy wants their experience to feel uplifting. “New clothes give them confidence and help them feel comfortable. When you look and feel good, you do everything better.” By the time they leave, Cathy sees them standing taller, usually smiling. When shoppers ask Cathy how she started Threads, and she tells them the community helped, they often express surprise that people care about them. “There’s a misconception that teens in foster care have done something to deserve it, and that’s not true. These teens need us. They’re going to be our leaders, and if we can show them some compassion and that the community cares about them, things can change.”
Foster parents have reported that the teens are excited to go back to school in their new clothes. “These kids have experienced trauma, and they need appropriate clothing to go to school and make it to the next step. It makes an amazing difference.” Cathy’s favorite moments are when shoppers reach out to her with life updates. She’s heard from kids who got jobs after wearing Threads clothes to their interview. “Those clothes gave them the confidence to go into the interview and answer those questions and get the job.” Threads has also provided certain items by request, like work boots for a construction job or a chef’s apron for culinary school. Cathy loves that Threads shoppers know they have a place to go where they can ask for help.
San Antonio Threads is run mostly by volunteers. People can sign up through their website to help the shoppers, stock the store, or unpack boxes. Monetary donations, gift cards, and new clothing items are always needed.
Looking ahead, Cathy hopes to continue serving as many San Antonio teenagers as possible. Ten years after starting Threads, she now works collaboratively with other clothing closets that have since opened, and she wants everyone to know they can do something good and make a difference. “Nothing’s better than seeing the kids, giving them a smile, and letting them know it’s going to be ok. Maybe not today, but it’ll get better. Hopefully it encourages them.”
“When you look and feel good, you do everything better.”