By Elizabeth Lenart | Contributor
Two Liberty High School students, Eli Kim and Amit Jennings, turned a simple idea into a powerful movement of compassion and community service. Together, they founded Wear It Forward, a student-led nonprofit that has donated over 6,000 clothing items—valued at more than $90,000—to The Storehouse Community Center in less than a year, providing essential support to local families in need.
What began in early 2025 with a few front-porch pickups has grown into a multi-school operation spanning Frisco, Allen, Plano, and McKinney. Today, Wear It Forward boasts two chapters, a team of 15+ student volunteers, and active partnerships with seven high schools and three elementary/middle schools.
The organization’s model is both simple and impactful: make donating clothes easier by offering home pickups, collecting unclaimed items from lost and found closets at schools, and organizing donation drives. On September 2, the student founders delivered 750 clothing items to Joseph’s Coat, The Storehouse’s clothing closet. Through this program, neighbors in need can make an appointment to “shop” for clothing at no cost, choosing items for themselves and their families. Last fiscal year, Joseph’s Coat distributed 130,583 articles of clothing, a significant increase from 90,325 in the previous fiscal year. All clothing is provided through community donations.
“We know that everyone has clothes they no longer need, but many people don’t donate because it’s inconvenient,” said Eli Kim, co-founder. “We are working to remove the barriers and create a system that makes giving back easy, fast, and meaningful.”
The students have put in hundreds of volunteer hours, leading National Honor Society drives, managing social media, designing and posting flyers, and promoting their cause across the community. With plans to expand into Carrollton and Richardson, their vision is to scale their efforts and continue empowering young people to lead with purpose.
“The overwhelming support we’ve received from the community has far exceeded anything we imagined,” added Amit Jennings, co-founder.
“It has been incredibly meaningful to know that we’re helping people through difficult times — offering not just clothing, but warmth and hope to our neighbors in need.”
Amit Jennings, Co-founder, Wear It Forward
“The generosity and leadership shown by the students behind Wear It Forward have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the families we serve,” said Candace Winslow, CEO of The Storehouse Community Center. “Their commitment to meeting a basic, yet often overlooked, need has helped restore dignity and confidence to so many in our community. We are proud to partner with such inspiring young leaders who are proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact.”
Community members can support Wear It Forward by donating gently used clothing. To schedule a pickup, visit their Instagram page at @wear_itforward or email wearitforward733@gmail.com for more information.
The Storehouse Community Center (formerly The Storehouse of Collin County) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community through food, clothing, resources, education, and employment support. By creating strong partnerships and offering transformational programs, TSCC works to address the root causes of food insecurity and empower neighbors to achieve self-sufficiency. During its previous fiscal year, The Storehouse served 182,024 unduplicated neighbors with the support of more than 2,000 volunteers. Visit www.thestorehousecc.org.
