Letter to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.

***

Every year, Americans throw away an average of 81 pounds of clothing, and nearly 85% of those textiles end up in landfills instead of being reused or recycled. Piles upon piles of wearable, brand-new clothing fill up landfills, just for the excuse of “not being trendy.” The truth is that while many of us in New Canaan feel that our closets are overfilled, 40% of children living in the US face clothing insecurity. With the hope of helping others, our club, Voices for Change, believes that something as simple as donating clothes can make a real difference.

Our club focuses on raising awareness about global issues while also taking action in our community with the aim of inspiring meaningful change. We believe change starts with small choices, and this clothes drive is one of those opportunities. For the past few weeks, we have been collecting clothing donations for the Thomas Merton Family Center in Bridgeport, a local shelter that supports families and individuals in need. This drive will continue until next week, and all donations are appreciated. Donation boxes are placed in the lobby of New Canaan High School.

Clothing insecurity is often overlooked, yet it impacts confidence, dignity, and everyday life. Having clean, warm, and reliable clothing is a necessity that almost half of our country struggles with, and we strive to be a small part of that change. Donating clothes also helps reduce waste and supports a more sustainable community. Instead of letting unused clothes sit in the back of a closet or end up in a landfill, they can directly help someone who truly needs them.

As students, we want our club to do more than just talk about problems—we want to act on the issues we believe in. This drive reflects what our club stands for: awareness, action, and compassion. We hope it reminds people that even small actions can make a difference in helping others; it doesn’t always take major action. Sometimes, it starts with a pair of jeans you no longer wear or a pair of shoes you have outgrown.

One thing that makes this issue a bigger problem is seeing how normalized it is. It’s easy to assume everyone has access to basic clothing, especially in communities like ours, where it often feels like there’s more than enough. But that’s not the reality for many families. Clothing insecurity isn’t always obvious, and that’s part of why it’s overlooked. This drive is a way for us to recognize that gap and do something small but meaningful to help close it.

We encourage everyone in our community to take a second to look inside their closets for any clothes that are not serving their purpose anymore, and donate what they can. One warm sweatshirt that you never wear or a new pair of socks sitting at the back of your drawer could make a meaningful difference to someone in need.

Priti Mathur, Sophia Cantu, Jack Busby and Anabelle Otto

Members, NCHS Voices for Change Club