Gifts of the Heart Exchange

I am in charge of a children's clothing charity, and we are having our big exchange this Saturday. Hooray for having my garage back! Anyhow, here is a write up the BYU paper (the Daily Universe) did today. Note: I am NOT the MBASA club president. Oops.

Gifts of the heart clothing exchange swap will aid students and families

By Courtney Smith
- Wed, 09/09/2009 - 15:45

There are a lot of costs associated with being a student. There are also a lot of costs associated with having your own family. Try doing both at once.

This Saturday, BYU’s Master of Business Administration Spouse Association will put on its third Gifts of the Heart Exchange, which is a large swap meet. It is free to attend and all items are free. The swap meet will be held from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at a church building at 965 N. Locust Lane in Provo. Items will include mainly women and children’s clothing, as well as shoes, toys and other baby gear.

“The Gifts of the Heart Exchange is to help all the students who are trying to have families while going through school make it financially, to help bear each others’ burdens,” said Kendra Johnston, 26, committee member for the event.

Anyone is encouraged to donate items in good condition that they no longer need, but it is not required to attend the event. Participants can bring donations to the event or on Friday at the event location in the cultural hall between 6-8 p.m.

“We probably have over 10,000 items of clothing already,” said Claire Jones, 29, MBASA president.

Kid to Kid, a consignment store based in Utah, has donated much of the clothing for the swap meet. Kid to Kid buys gently used children’s clothing for their stores. Any clothing they cannot use or that they have a surplus of they donate to MBASA. MBASA picks up clothing from Kid to Kid locations three times a week in preparation for the event.

“We have such an abundance and we want to give them to people who need them,” Jones said.

BYU MBSA would like donors to sort and label clothes by sex and into the following sizes: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6-7, 8-10, 12-14, men’s/womens S, M, L, XL, and place in bags.

Those who wish to donate a large item should bring a picture, description and their contact information, rather than bringing the item.

After Saturday, the next Gifts of the Heart Exchange will be Nov. 7.

For more information, contact Claire Jones at giftsothe@gmail.com.