FORT WORTH, Texas – The Clothing Exchange held a Fort Worth event March 5 to give local residents an opportunity to receive free clothing items.

The Odd Fellows Lodge in downtown Fort Worth hosted the event, which has been occurring for over 15 years in the DFW area. It allows individuals to bring clothes they no longer use to look around the venue and take any other clothing items home at no cost.

Meredith Moore started the organization in 2006 in a church basement for local students and teachers who struggled to find new clothes for the school year.

“I remember driving down Highland Park and seeing these brand-new shoes on the side of the road for anyone to grab,” Moore says after getting the inspiration to create the event because of such great economic disparity.

Moore adds that now the event is catered to every economic class, and she encourages anyone to come and participate.

“It’s basically a pop-up department store,” Moore said with a laugh while describing the one-day event.

With the pandemic in early 2020, organizers had some difficulty finding an indoor venue, and Moore added that they have struggled finding venues in the past because of places not understanding what they do. But the Odd Fellows Lodge has hosted the event the past few years.

Volunteers from all over help organize the one-day event from noon-5 p.m.

“Me and my mom got here around 10:30 in the morning,” volunteer October Yeager said.

Yeager added, “Everybody who’s here is so kind, it feels like such a good community.”

The event has created a strong community for people who come every year. Most hear about it by word of mouth.

Rechel, who requested her last name not be used, said, “The way I look at it, it’s free shopping, I love it.” She, along with many other regulars, said she looks forward to coming to every event held by The Clothing Exchange.

On Sunday after the event has finished, volunteers are given the chance to look through the leftover clothes and take any items home with them. The remaining clothes are then given to local charities around the DFW area.

For more information, please see the group’s Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/TheClothingExchange/?ref=page_internal