A wide variety of donated clothing and accessories is presented at the Clothing for Confidence shopping day at Inside-Out Ministries on July 26. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter

MADISON – After nearly three months of donations, from sifting through a mountain of shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, purses and accessories, Clothing for Confidence founder Madison Rolling knew it was all twice as much as last year’s haul.

“That was very exciting,” she said. “We doubled the shoes, doubled the accessories, everything.”

The second annual Clothing for Confidence shopping day unleashed the numerous donation items at the Inside-Out Ministries building off of Wall-Triana on Saturday, July 26 from 3-7 p.m. Items were $1 apiece and, true to the organization’s mission statement, benefited those in need who lacked quality back-to-school clothing.

The purpose of Clothing for Confidence is “To instill confidence through clothing by providing a way to a new outfit for students in need in the North Alabama area to wear on the first day of school,” according to the official flyer for this year’s drive. The brainchild of Rolling, four of her friends who are also 2013 Bob Jones graduates assisted in its creation last May.

“It definitely would not be possible without them,” Rolling said.

Now into its second year, Rolling said it was different organizing 2014’s drive due to her and her friends going their separate ways after high school; three, including Rolling, went to Auburn University while the remaining two attended the University of North Alabama this past school year.

Rolling and the others periodically monitored the five drop-off points for donations during the summer and then collected everything a few days before the shopping day.

“We had people waiting at the door,” Rolling said of the turnout on July 26.

All proceeds from the shopping day are funneled for purchases of more clothing for those in need. Rolling said she hopes future drives will expand past the borders of Madison city into other areas of North Alabama.