By Joyce DeWallace, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Thanks to the hard work of Violetta Sobiech and her committee, families will be able to swap their children’s clothes at a free clothing exchange on Saturday, April 2 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Father Smith Center of St. Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Turnpike.
Anyone who is raising children, know that they grow at an amazing rate, sometimes hardly wearing something before they’ve outgrown it. Instead of rushing to the mall, the swap gives parents a chance to trade in those hardly-worn outfits for larger size clothing.
Those wishing to participate must RSVP via email to [email protected] or by leaving a personal message on the Facebook page, SwapClothes123. Participants then are asked to bring in gently- used, clean children’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Included in the swap are Halloween costumes and maternity clothes. The swap includes everything from newborn baby sizes through teenagers clothing and gear. No toys or books are accepted.
The idea is that participants can take an equal number of items to match the number of items they bring in. The swaps have been a great success in the past according to Sobiech and provide an opportunity to clean out closets and bureaus, while being able to trade for bigger sizes for growing families. Items must be clean, stain-free and without holes.
This is the seventh free clothing swap, which has provided a way to connect with other families in the community and share resources. Any items that remain after the swap are donated to the thrift shop at St. Anne’s. Other donations are accepted if someone just wants to do a little spring cleaning and help a worthy cause.