KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Police Athletic League is getting ready for its fourth annual clothing drive for its students.
The center, which serves about 1,000 about kids every year, is a place where students and police can have positive interactions and relationships.
"You're in an environment where you're building relationships and you get to learn a little bit more about that person," KCPD Sgt. Skip Cox said. "And you can kind of see why they respond the way they do, so when you're able to see somebody at the core of who they really are, then you can be part of the solution and work together for a better world."
Students come after school and get to do a variety of things, from resume building to boxing.
PAL is in the middle of a big clothing drive to help those students with some of the things they may not be able to afford. Cox says it's not just clothes that will be available for the students and other people in the community.
"We have kind of an open garage sale where we partnership with other corporations and other organizations, who have donated gently used clothes, shoes, books, toys for the kids and we set it all out," Cox said. "This entire gym will be full of those items. And then we invite not only our PAL families but also community members just to come in and do some free shopping"
The drive allows the students and their families to pick items for free.
"People don't come out and say hey I need help with this, but when that opportunity is there, when they can come and actually do those things and take those things home, they really take advantage for that," Cox said. "It's a win win not only for their families and help them, but it's a win for us to provide for them as well.
Cox said this event is more than just a clothing drive.
"This clothing drive and all the things that we do down here are just there to support not only that mission but then that vision for our kids," Cox said. "So that when we're not with them, they have that opportunity to make the right decision and do something better for their lives."
Right now through Thursday, they will be collecting donations. To learn more about how you can donate or volunteer, you can visit the center, call 816-413-3621, or click here.
The clothing drive is Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Athletic League Center located at 1801 White Avenue.
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