Giant, Free Kids Clothing Exchange Returning To Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Southwest Riverside County families are expected to gather again for a unique local event aimed at helping parents ditch their kids' too-small clothes and size up — for free. It's all part of 'Miss Lori's Bi-Annual Clothing Exchange.'

The Murrieta mom behind the event has now hosted four similar exchanges. This fifth run will happen on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Murrieta Mesa High School from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Lori Nelson told Patch she organized the event to help out solve a problem she'd witnessed in her local community. Helping run a Facebook group that connects Murrieta moms with one another, she often witnessed people asking to trade clothing.

"The trade idea never made any sense to me because everyone always wanted to trade smaller size clothing for larger size clothing, and everyone's kids grow bigger not smaller," she said. "I would also see moms trying to sell old clothing and struggling to do so."

So she created a new system. Bring what you can, take what you need.

Simply put, if you have some old clothes you'd like to see not wasted, bring them. Or, perhaps you don't have anything to give but are in need of a few items? Lori says that works, too.

Participants are just asked to bring their children's clothing they no longer need — organized by size and gender — and put them into the pot. Attendees can then browse the items that others have brought and take what they need.

Things that are accepted at the event include: clothing, accessories (such as shoes, socks, bibs, bows, hats, beanies, diapers and wipes), blankets, books and stuffed animals.

The exchange is not for things like baby gear, such as strollers, portable cribs and high chairs. Toys are also not accepted.

"Some families only come to donate," Nelson says. "Some have nothing to donate, but are still able to pick out free clothes."

At the end of the day, anything left over is donated to El Roi Ministries, Foster Closet.

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