Southwest Baltimore Charter School is requesting uniform support (monetary/in-kind) for the 2022-2023 School year. Uniforms would go to youth in need due to financial hardships. Access to school uniforms has been proven to have a direct effect on student attendance and self-esteem. Southwest Baltimore Charter School is in the Washington Village/Pigtown Community that has an average median income of $34,785 meaning that many of our youth’s families often have to prioritize vital resources in order to function from day to day and month to month. Uniforms, a basic resource for so many, can create a strain on families already struggling with minimal budgets, often meaning they are behind on vital resources such as water and electric bills, food etc. City Schools and Southwest Baltimore Charter School dedicate funds to assist families in need every year. Unfortunately, those resources aren’t able to cover the majority of our families with support for uniforms. Uniforms have been linked to academic data as well as social/emotional outcomes in and outside of the classroom. Students who have clean uniforms each day are more likely to come to school every day, while students and families who struggle with high attendance goals (94%) regularly cite the lack of clothing items and uniforms as a reason why students miss school. Multiple focus groups with families and youth have produced evidence that youth without uniforms often feel ashamed and disconnected from the school and the classroom. Negative emotions connected to the lack of basic items often show up in the school as adverse behaviors. Please consider assisting Southwest Baltimore Charter School by donating uniform resources for the 2022-2023 School Year!
For in-kind donations, we are requesting the following items:
We accept brand new and gently used items.