It's time for Back to School and this year has been called one of the most expensive back to school shopping seasons amid inflation. The schoolwear brand French Toast has partnered with Friendship House in Delaware and donated nearly $40,000 in back to schoolwear for thirteen local schools! This impact is helping hundreds of children ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade and their families.
We encourage the community to donate to families in need through a specific amazon wish list which is linked below. If you are feeling blessed this Back to School season, consider helping those who need it the most.
AMAZON WISH LIST: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37CWDIHFNIS2Y/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Check out some of the pictures below at one of their first drop off days at Shortlidge Elementary School!
There will be more happening throughout schools in Delaware during the rest of August and into September and you could help make a difference!
Photo: Friendship House
Photo: Friendship House
Photo: Friendship House
French Toast Schoolwear Partners with Friendship House to Provide Families and Students with Much Needed Schoolwear Items This Back-to-School
National Schoolwear Brand Bolsters Delaware School System with Nearly $40,000 Uniform Donation
Wilmington, DE., July 18, 2022 – The schoolwear brand French Toast has announced a partnership with Friendship House, a nonprofit organization serving communities in Delaware. French Toast has donated nearly $40,000 in schoolwear toward thirteen schools, impacting hundreds of students kindergarten to 12th Grade and their families. This initiative will offer additional families in the greater Wilmington area access to French Toast schoolwear, giving students both the tools and confidence to succeed alongside their peers in the classroom this upcoming school year.
“At French Toast, we are dedicated to making the best possible schoolwear accessible to all kids and all families. The partnership with Friendship House enables us to support Delaware communities directly to make an immediate impact on families in need,” said Stephen Ashear, President of French Toast. “It is our mission to help kids shine and we firmly believe that all students should have the opportunity to feel comfortable and confident so that they can focus on learning.”
When the Friendship House team pointed to data indicating a gap stemming from the lack of access for a population of students in the state for necessary apparel such as polos, khaki pants and more, the organization wanted to get involved to help local families ease this burden. After an initial pilot program with one school in 2020, French Toast and Friendship House were inspired to expand this effort this upcoming Fall and assist additional students in need across a wider network of schools in Delaware.
Together, Friendship House and French Toast aim to deliver clothing to thirteen schools so that additional children receive access to the schoolwear. According to Friendship House’s projections, about 50% of the students across all participating schools this year will need at least one item of schoolwear. Community members interested in supporting this initiative can purchase clothing items directly from the organization’s amazon wishlist.
Once the schools receive the clothing drops, administrators will then have the option to curate clothing closets housed on campuses or coordinate distribution directly to students at home as they prepare for the return to classes. Friendship House has consistently advocated for members of the Delaware community experiencing homelessness, houselessness, or both, and shares French Toast’s commitment to providing access to quality schoolwear for all kids.
“For 35 years, Friendship House has focused on the gaps which exist in our community,” says Kim Eppehimer, Executive Director of Friendship House. “Although many gaps still exist, ensuring students have equal access to necessary resources so they can show up to school prepared is something we cannot ignore. Part of this goal is to ensure students across Delaware have equal access to clean, good-quality school clothing. French Toast’s donation to this project is a clear commitment they agree with how important it is to care for every member of our community, regardless of age.”
For more information or to make a donation contact uniform@friendshiphousede.org, visit friendshiphousede.org or call (302) 654-1390.
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ABOUT FRENCH TOAST
French Toast is dedicated to making the best possible schoolwear accessible to ALL kids and ALL families from ALL walks of life. We are on a mission to help kids shine, whatever their passion, no matter the dress code, wherever they live or go to school. Since 1985, French Toast has been trusted by thousands of schools nationwide as their uniform provider and is committed to partnering with the communities we serve. French Toast works directly with our manufacturing partners in every step of the process, providing more value without sacrificing quality. For more information about becoming a French Toast partner school, visit http://www.frenchtoast.com/schools.
ABOUT FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
Friendship House is an organization aimed to unite those facing homelessness with loving, supportive communities that they can call home. For more than 35 years, Friendship House has served Delaware with the support of volunteers, donors, community partners, and faith partners to address houselessness and homelessness through programs such as the Clothing Bank, Empowerment Centers, Code Purple, Financial Assistance, and Transitional Housing. Serving more than 10,000 people annually through these programs, Friendship House aims to fill gaps and support those experiencing homelessness, houselessness, and both. https://www.friendshiphousede.org/