Aspen + Gray clothing closet provides personalized shopping experience for young women in need
June 1, 2022
PORTLAND, Ore.— Youth For Christ (YFC, www.yfc.net) has spent over 77 years dedicated to helping every young person feel loved and accepted by coming alongside them during pivotal moments and building life-long relationships that ultimately point to Christ. After seeing a need for clean clothes in the area, Portland Youth For Christ (YFCPDX) leaders worked together to create Aspen + Gray, a clothing closet that provides female youth with on-trend clothing and personal hygiene products for free.
Annie Clark, YFCPDX Campus Life Director, stated, “We have set up the clothing closet to resemble a boutique rather than a clothing closet and make sure that students feel as though they are getting a personalized shopping experience. Girls can come and shop for clothing, hygienic items, accessories, or make-up — all for free. Over spring break, we handed out our 150th bag of clothing in just over a year of operation!”
Studies have regularly shown that youth without access to clean, fresh clothing struggle in their relationships frequently choose to be absent from class rather than attend school and facing potential embarrassment. One school principal stated, “If it’s a choice between coming to school dirty and have children laugh at you or make fun of you, or staying home, they’ll stay home.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately one out of six students was chronically absent during the 2015-16 school year, meaning they missed more than 15 days of school for any reason. The study showed that absenteeism can impede a child’s ability to learn how to read and can lead older students to fail courses and become more likely to drop out.
Clark continued, “It’s so important to make these girls feel not only welcome at Aspen + Gray, but valued. By treating them with respect and providing these vital resources, we build strong relationships with the youth in our area and open the door to important Gospel-inspired conversations.”
YFC chapters impact thousands of communities across the nation, seeking out and serving youth from all walks of life. Young people are silently struggling through a wide variety of challenging issues—and through the YFC ministry God empowers, they see the living power of a loving God. YFC trains its leaders in a proven, relational ministry model called 3Story®, which encourages staff and volunteers to be good news while also sharing the stories of the Good News of Jesus. It involves building relationships through the ups and downs of everyday life to lead people to Christ.
YFC has been a pillar of missional ministry since 1944, when the Rev. Billy Graham served as YFC’s first full-time staff member. Since then, Youth For Christ has continued to be both a rural and urban ministry on mission, and it is always about the message of Jesus. YFC reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ, and commitment to social involvement. Youth For Christ operates in over 100 nations and has over 130 chapters that impact communities across America.
Visit the Youth For Christ media page here. Learn more about Youth For Christ at its website, www.yfc.net, Facebook and Instagram pages, Twitter feed @yfcusa or on Vimeo.
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