Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. In fact, it’s often the difficulties of childhood that propel people to pursue a passion bigger than themselves in adulthood. This is true for Amy Vann, who was no stranger to the cruelties often faced by children who are unable to afford nice clothing.
Vann turned pain into passion when she launched Give Like a Mother. “GLAM, as we call it for short, is a nonprofit that provides clothing to children and teens in need,” explains Vann. “The idea behind our mission is that clothes are more than a simple necessity, and can have a serious impact on the way kids view themselves – and in turn, how they perform in school and in life.”
To combat these issues and help children and teens look forward to their education and the future, GLAM accepts gently-used clothing, coats, and shoes from community members to help make stylized clothing packs for those who need them.
Vann says that while the name is fun and sassy, it’s also meant as a challenge: to give as selflessly as a mother would. “Drawing on the not-so-fond memories of that childhood cruelty, I founded Give Like a Mother in late 2017,” she says. “The need for clothing among families in Clermont County quickly out-grew my basement and today Give Like a Mother continues to slowly but surely outgrow our 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Batavia.”
In the years since its inception, Give Like a Mother has provided clothing to more than 6,000 children in need, including more than 1,400 in 2022 alone. “That means over 7,000 outfits and more than 14,000 pairs of new socks and underwear have left our doors since January 2022,” says Vann.
Families who utilize the clothing packs offered by Give Like a Mother are not charged. “At GLAM, we know poverty guidelines for requesting federal assistance can sometimes be an arbitrary measure of need, that’s why we don’t have any threshold that families need to meet in order to request help,” she says. “With this being said, while everyone loves the idea of free clothes, we want our services to be used by those who need it most.”
In addition to its focus on providing clothing for those who need it, Give Like a Mother also focuses on the underserved, rural counties of Greater Cincinnati. “This is a really important detail for place-loyal residents who want to know their gently-used clothing is going to a local child in need, and not being used to make a profit,” says Vann.
The organization also relies on the dedication of volunteers who style the clothing packs. “Clothes can be just that; clothes,” she says. “But an outfit is an opportunity to finally fit in and escape ridicule. And for some children, that can make all the difference.”
Vann says Give Like a Mother is always in search of volunteers and donors to make the organization’s mission a reality. You can support them by giving clothing, which you can learn more about at www.givelikeamother.com or by following along on Facebook and Instagram. Accepted donations include gently-used clothing, coats, and shoes from size newborn through 6XL.