It's been almost a year since Clothes Less Traveled (CLT) revealed a vibrant new color palette and fresh logo design. Staff and volunteers are proud of the organization's fresh new look, and the words that embody the heart and soul of the organization - We Love Our Community. It's been 25 years since CLT's inception, and the organization continues to have multi-level impact throughout the community. From the thrift shop to granting funds, and everything in between, CLT is empowering change in our community.
While the pandemic caused CLT to pause, the organization remained strong in its desire and efforts to remain true to its mission. Granting funds and partnering with local agencies are at the heart of CLT. Store Manager Tameka O'Neal shares, "There's no way our organization would function without love for the community and the passion everyone has for giving back and making sure that every aspect of this operation is solely for that purpose. This is what drives our volunteers and our staff; collectively it's what makes us."
CLT's ability to give back - by way of grants, scholarships and vouchers - is supported by generous donors, cheerful volunteers, and thoughtful shoppers.
After a two-year pause, CLT was excited to open its grant application in February. The organization's Grants Committee worked hard in preparation for what would be the launch of a revised Grants Program. The desire to have greater impact resulted in a more focused service area - Fayette and Coweta counties - and the addition of agency site visits as part of the application process. The opportunity to get to know potential grantee partners better, and for them to get to know CLT, was met with optimism and gratitude.
CLT congratulates the following agencies selected to receive funds for the 2022 grants process:
- 180 Degree Farm
- Abbey's Angels
- Armed Forces Mission
- Backstreet Community Arts
- Bloom Our Youth
- Clearwater Academy
- Coco's Cupboard
- CORRAL - Coweta Organization for Riding, Rehabilitation and Learning
- Coweta CASA
- Coweta F.O.R.C.E. - Friends of Recovery for Community Empowerment
- Exceptional Ops
- Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic
- Fayette Humane Society
- Fayette Senior Services
- FOCUS - Families of Children Under Stress
- Healing Bridge Clinic
- Midwest Food Bank
- Phenomenal Women's Health
- RiverLife
- Royal Family Kids Camp
- Safe Kids of Fayette County
- Sisters of Society Corporation
- Southern Conservation Trust
- Southwest Christian Care
- Square Foot Ministries
- The Joseph Sams School
- Whiskers-n-Paws
The excitement continues with the granting of two inaugural awards. The CLT Founders Grant, established to honor the legacy created by the organization's founders, Joan Velsmid and Mary Ann Cox, will be granted annually to St. Vincent de Paul. The Dick Allis Award honors the significant contributions and longevity of CLT volunteer Dick Allis and will be awarded through CLT's Scholarship Program to the scholarship recipient with the most volunteer hours.
CLT's new Chief Impact Officer, Kimber Huff, looks forwards to cultivating relationships with our grantee partners and others throughout the community. Barbara Harrison is the chair of the organization's governing body, and she gives perspective on what's next for CLT. "I am excited about the growth and future of CLT. As we honor our organization's history, it's important that we thrive and grow as we expand into the future. I believe we have many areas of opportunity and potential for that. I'm excited to explore the organization's vision, and to see where God is going to take us."
If you'd like to be part of something pretty amazing, visit clotheslesstraveled.org to learn how donating, volunteering and shopping can create a meaningful impact.
