Recently, the Community Foundation’s Renée Byng Yancey, Sari Raskin, Jennifer Cochran, Gaby Webster, and Amanda Bomfim visited Boxes of Basics, a local nonprofit that provides schoolchildren in need with clothing. Our team met program manager Sally Crockett and Founder/Executive Director Sarah Tyndall to learn more about their critical work and the inspiration behind it.
Sarah came up with the idea for Boxes of Basics several years ago when she put together a “care box” for a friend in difficult times. This one act turned into a pattern, and Sarah soon had volunteers in her basement packing boxes for Prince William families in need as her little ones crawled around. Sarah’s children are now in middle school, and the organization sends well over a thousand boxes from their Manassas-based warehouse within a year. Additionally, Sarah’s volunteer list is always full. Boxes of Basics has 75 drivers delivering boxes, many to their three pick-up locations in Prince William County.
Following this conversation, the Community Foundation staff read background materials about the children who would soon receive boxes. Sarah explained that the organization serves a lot of families that “fall through the cracks” and might not qualify for services or support otherwise. However, Boxes of Basics receives referrals from schools and social workers, which creates a vast support system in the community.
Sarah then took the Community Foundation team back to where the organization’s magic happens: a warehouse filled and carefully organized with clothes, books, and supplies. Sarah assigned us two boxes for siblings, one boy and one girl. We split into teams and meticulously selected their outfits (based on occasions) and books they might enjoy, then packed their supplies and wrote each a note. Sarah reviewed our checklists and gave us the OK to finish our boxes. It capped off an energetic and engaging experience to start the work week.
Support The Community Foundation’s Safety Net Fund
Boxes of Basics’ mission “is to provide children in need with a seasonal box of quality new and gently used clothing in their size.” This selfless purpose earned Boxes of Basics a 2024 Safety Net Fund grant of $15,000, which will help alleviate the clothing insecurity crisis in our area by providing a quality, seasonally appropriate wardrobe to over 1,500 local children from low-income households. These efforts furnish not just clothing but also love, confidence, and empowerment to every child. Visit our website to learn more about the Safety Net Fund, and thank you Boxes of Basics for everything you do for the Northern Virginia community!
Questions?
