Did you know that 1 in 3 children in Massachusetts face clothing insecurities on a daily basis, particularly when it comes to underwear? This may seem surprising, but considering how rarely new underwear is donated to those in need, this statistic makes sense. While food, toys, outerwear, and even shoes are common donation items, new underwear is often overlooked.
How Cocotree Kids Supports Children in Need
Hi, my name is Krystin, and I’m the Operations Manager at Lucky & Me. As a mom, I deeply appreciate what Cocotree Kids is doing in Massachusetts. This amazing nonprofit, officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization, steps in to provide something many might not consider—a basic necessity for kids: underwear.
They focus on gathering and distributing new underwear, ranging in sizes from 2T to 16, to children who are underserved and at risk throughout Massachusetts.
Kids Underwear: The Most Needed Yet Least Donated Item
It's heartbreaking but true—underwear is one of the most needed yet least donated items. Cocotree Kids has a goal that every child in need can get access to clean, well-fitting undergarments. These are not just essentials; they are vital for boosting a child's self-esteem, comfort, and dignity.
Since its start in 2021, Cocotree Kids has managed to distribute over 250,000 pairs of underwear to more than 35,700 children across Massachusetts as of November 2024.
Helping Hand-In-Hand with Local Partners
The organization works hand-in-hand with various local partners—hospitals, shelters, and community centers—to reach children who are navigating tough challenges, including homelessness, domestic violence, and economic hardship. As a parent, knowing there's a group dedicated to such a fundamental cause gives me hope and inspires me to spread the word so more can contribute to their mission.
Lucky & Me and Cocotree Kids: Strengthening Communities Together
The owners of Lucky & Me were first introduced to Catherine Maloy, one of the founders of Cocotree Kids, in 2022 by their friend Jim Schwartz. Jim is the Executive Chairman of MGF Sourcing, one of the largest apparel sourcing, manufacturing, and supply chain companies globally. As an advisor to Cocotree Kids, Jim saw an opportunity for Lucky & Me to support Cocotree Kids with its product needs.
Once Lucky & Me became aware of the urgent need for basic clothing among children, and found a partner in Cocotree Kids, they quickly mobilized their resources. They began supplying Cocotree Kids with high-quality underwear, recognizing the potential to profoundly impact the lives of countless children.
Kani and Rochelle, the owners of Lucky & Me, with the Cocotree team
25,000 Pairs of Kids Underwear Donated Since 2022
After speaking with the founder of Cocotree Kids recently, I learned that as of November of 2024 Lucky & Me has donated over 25,000 pairs of underwear since 2022. That has given over 3,500 children a week's worth of underwear. Knowing that parents can pay utility bills or rent for another month because of these donations is truly so rewarding.
The Charles River School Packing Event
I was fortunate enough to be a part of a Cocotree Kids packing event that took place on October 29th, 2024 at the Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts.
This event is where Cocotree Kids brought thousands of pairs of underwear donations from Lucky & Me to create undie packs. Upon arrival, I found piles of new underwear which needed to be sorted by gender and size. I joined in with other helpers, including 44 middle school kids who woke up and got to school an hour and a half early to give back to their community.
7 Days of Comfy Undies
After being separated by size, the piles were counted and made into packs of 7, providing a pair of underwear for each day of the week. These packs were then ready to be sent to various shelters and children’s hospitals for those in need.
By the end of the event we had sorted and packed 1,232 pairs of underwear for 176 kids! What a great morning of giving back.
Live on WBZ News Mornings in Boston
The event was broadcast on WBZ News Mornings in Boston live at a couple of different times during the show. I had a chance to be interviewed by Levan Reid on one of those segments. I was excited to be able to share how Lucky & Me is able to partner with Cocotree Kids and help make a difference in the lives of so many children.
Interview with Founder & Chief Executive Officer Catherine Maloy
Interview with Lucky & Me Operations Manager Krystin Morse
Cocotree Kids 2024 Season of Giving Campaign
Cocotree Kids kicked off their Season of Giving campaign at the beginning of November, which runs until the end of the year. They're aiming to raise $30,000 to buy 60,000 pairs of underwear. That means 8,500 kids could get a fresh pair for every day of the week.
If you want to help them reach this goal and keep supporting these kids with the basics they need, you can make a donation on their website today. Every little bit helps!
The Lasting Impact of Community Service
I also felt very fortunate to have brought my oldest son, Trey, along with me to the event. Volunteering within the local community is something that is so important for our youth to learn about and he was able to experience this firsthand.
Before the event we discussed what it means to volunteer and different ways we can give back to the community whether it be coaching a sports team, joining a committee at school, or volunteering in a food bank.
After the event we discussed how taking a few hours out of our day can drastically change someone else’s in such a positive way. Being able to not only share this experience with my son, but to directly see the impact that my work has on the community has truly been a blessing.
Going into the Season of Giving, Lucky & Me and my family are more motivated to find other ways to support our local community, and I hope that you too will find a way to get involved in yours!
Visit CocotreeKids.org to learn more about how you can donate, host a drive, or volunteer.