$10,000 Clothing Donation Helps Local Youth Feel Confident and Ready

A new outfit can provide more than comfort. For a child or teen, it can bring confidence, encourage self-expression and help them feel prepared to participate fully—whether they are heading to school, attending camp or spending time with friends.

The Northern Middlesex YMCA extends its heartfelt appreciation to Eva Lokaj of High Life, LLC for a generous donation of high-quality athletic clothing valued at $10,000.

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High Life is an active-apparel manufacturer that collaborates with well-known brands to create clothing for adults and children. Through this contribution, the company placed quality apparel directly into the hands of young people in our community.

The donated clothing was shared with children enrolled in the Y's Summer Enrichment Program and teens who regularly come to the Y. Items were also distributed from the Y's table at the Back-to-School Backpack Event hosted by Cross Street Church, helping even more local students begin the school year feeling comfortable, confident and ready.

The smiles said it all. Children were excited to select clothing that reflected their personalities, fit their needs and helped them feel good about themselves. For their families, the donation also helped ease the cost of preparing growing children for a new school year.

Supporting Families Under Pressure

Gifts like this are especially meaningful for working families whose household budgets are already stretched by the rising costs of housing, childcare, food, transportation and health care.

Many of these households are considered ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but still do not make enough to cover all the basic costs of living.

According to the latest United For ALICE data, 39% of Connecticut households—nearly 570,000 households—were living below the ALICE Threshold in 2024. These are families who are working, contributing to our communities and making difficult choices about how to stretch each paycheck. The cost of childcare alone can place dependable, enriching care beyond a family's reach.

At the Northern Middlesex YMCA, we believe household income should never prevent a child from having a safe place to learn, grow and belong.

In 2025, the Y provided more than $116,000 in financial assistance to 253 families using YMCA childcare programs. Assistance is available to qualifying working families with household incomes of up to $100,000, helping parents maintain dependable childcare while creating more room in their budgets for groceries, housing, transportation and other necessities.

Community Generosity Creates Opportunity

Eva Lokaj and High Life's generous donation demonstrates how businesses and individuals can use their resources to make an immediate and personal difference.

This gift did more than provide clothing. It helped children and teens feel seen, valued and equipped to take on what comes next. It supported parents working hard to provide for their families. And it strengthened the network of community care that makes Northern Middlesex a better place for everyone.

We are deeply grateful to Eva Lokaj and High Life, LLC for investing in our young people and helping the Y continue to be The Geared Up, Empowered Place.

Help a Local Family Thrive

The need remains great. A gift to the Northern Middlesex YMCA's Annual Support Campaign directly supports local children and working families through childcare scholarships and other essential Y programs.

Your donation can give a parent dependable care, provide a child with enriching opportunities and help a family stretch its income further to meet everyday needs.

DONATE TODAY and help ensure that every local family has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive—regardless of income. midymca.org/annual-giving