Clothing Pick-up Instructions

  • Clothing is picked up at our Headquarters at 4300 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214.
  • You are responsible for picking up your clothing on the scheduled date and time. Clothing may be picked up by a friend or relative. Whoever is picking up the clothing order must be able to provide Charity Newsies staff with your application number.
  • When arriving at Charity Newsies for your appointment, park in a numbered parking space and contact Charity Newsies staff by texting the phone number on the sign in your parking space.
  • In your text message, include your parking spot number as well as your application number. Charity Newsies staff will get your order ready and deliver it directly to your car.
  • Please stay in your car throughout this process.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION​

  • Clothing CANNOT be exchanged or returned. Verify that you have received the correct clothing before leaving Charity Newsies during your appointment pick-up. Clothing is provided based on the school and clothing sizes selected.
  • Children are not required to be present during pick-up. We do not provide school excuses. We recommend you bring a shirt and pair of pants that fit each child to check sizing during pick-up.
  • Do NOT bring pets. 
  • There will be NO access to our bathrooms or building for any reason.
  • Once the application is submitted, NO CHANGES can be made to the application.
  • Clothing pick-up appointments CANNOT be rescheduled for any reason. Please do not call to reschedule an appointment. You can have someone else pick up the clothing (give them your Application Number) or see below for picking up clothing after a missed pick-up appointment.
  • If you miss your clothing pick-up appointment, you have one week from your original appointment to pick up the clothing. Charity Newsies will contact you directly by text and email to notify you of a missed pick-up appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Picking Up Clothing

  • Where is Charity Newsies located?
  • What do I do when I arrive for clothing pickup?
    • Charity Newsies clothing distribution uses a curbside pickup model. Depending on how you arrive, please follow the instructions below. 
    • If you arrive by car, please pull into a numbered parking space. Text your application number and parking space number to (614)263-4300. Our staff and volunteers will get your order and bring it out to you.  Please wait in your car.
    • If you arrive by bus or on foot, please wait outside. Text your application number and tell us you are waiting outside to the phone number (614)263-4300.  Our staff and volunteers will get your order and bring it out to you.  We have a table on the side of our building with an umbrella. Please wait there. 
  • Where is the nearest bus stop? What bus lines do I use?
    • Charity Newsies is located directly next to the Indianola Ave & E Schreyer Pl stop on the 4 Line.
  • How long does this process take?
    • While we will work to make the process as quick as possible, please plan for this whole process to take approximately half an hour.
  • How do I make sure that the clothing I ordered will fit?
    • While filling out the application, please double check sizing information before submitting. We recommend bringing clothing you know fits your child to your appointment to compare sizes.
    • Before leaving Charity Newsies during your appointment, please make sure to visually inspect the clothing to check to make sure it looks like it will fit and matches the school dress code. This is the ONLY time that Charity Newsies can make exchanges to correct any issues with your order.
    • Clothing CANNOT be exchanged or returned. 

Appointments

  • I can’t make my appointment, can I reschedule?
    • No, unfortunately appointments can not be rescheduled. However, a friend, family member, or social worker  can pick up your order on your behalf.  Please just make sure that whoever is picking up your order has your application number and appointment time.
  • I missed my appointment, what can I do?
    • If you miss your appointment Charity Newsies will hold your order for one week, after that time, Charity Newsies will no longer be able to fulfill your order for this school year. If your appointment was on a Monday, you will have until the end of the day the following Monday to pick up your order.  Charity Newsies is open for clothing pick up during the following schedule.
      • Mondays – 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
      • Tuesdays – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
      • Wednesdays – 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
      • Thursdays – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
      • Friday – Closed

Application Changes

  • My child changed schools after I submitted my application, how can I make sure they get the right clothes?
    • If you applied and have not yet picked up your clothes, please call Charity Newsies at (614)263-4300. We will make those changes to the application, and ensure you receive the right clothing in your order. 
    • If you have already picked up the clothing this year, unfortunately Charity Newsies will be unable to provide additional assistance. We are only able to serve each child once per school year. 
  • I forgot one of my children on the application. What should I do?
    • Unfortunately after your application has been submitted we cannot add any additional children. Please confirm all of the information is correct before submitting. 

Vouchers

  • Where can I find my voucher?
    • If you are receiving vouchers, they will be in an envelope stapled to the bag. All vouchers for each child in a family will be together in the same envelope. 
  • What if I lose my vouchers?
    • Once you receive a voucher, they are your responsibility. Charity Newsies is unable to replace or edit vouchers after they have been issued.
  • How long do I have to use my vouchers?
    • Vouchers expire on Friday, December 4th, 2026. Expired vouchers cannot be used or replaced.  
  • Where can I use my vouchers?
    • Vouchers can be used at the following locations:
      • Educational Apparel 3906 Brown Park Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026
        (614)876-3030
        Hours
        • Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
        • Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
        • Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
        • Sunday: Closed
      • School Closet/School Days 73 N Stygler Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230
        (614)476-4104
        Hours
        • Tuesday – Thursday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
        • Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
        • Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
        • Closed Monday and Sunday
      • Follow the guidance provided by your child’s school about which location offers each school’s uniform
    • How do I use my vouchers?
      • Vouchers are worth either $30 or $75 depending on if it is meant to cover uniform shirts, or both uniform shirts and pants.
      • The voucher itself provides a specific list of the types of items your voucher can be used to purchase.
      • The vendors listed above will apply its value as a credit in your purchase. If you purchase more items than your voucher is worth, you must pay the difference.
      • If you purchase less than the value of your voucher, the whole purchase will be covered, but change will not be issued.

Other 

  • Do I need to bring my kids?
    • No, you do not need to bring your children for your appointment. We recommend bringing clothing you know fits your child to your appointment to compare sizes.
  • Can I come into the building and try the clothes on?
    • No, to ensure we are able to offer new clean clothes to every client, we can not allow people to try on the clothing. Please visually inspect the clothes to determine if they will fit, do not try them on.  Our building is not open to the public.
  • Can I come into the building to use the bathroom?
    • No, our building is not open to the public. The closest public restrooms are located at nearby gas stations, either United Dairy Farmers at Indianola and Oakland, or BP or Speedway at Morse Rd. and Nth 4th Street. 
  • What if I don’t have a smart phone?
    • Our system just uses text messages, you do not need a smart phone. Follow the instructions above.
  • What if I don’t know how to text?
    • If you do not know how to text or are experiencing issues with your phone, please wave down a staff member or volunteer who will assist you. Please have your application number ready and available. Please wait outside and follow the guidance the staff member provides.
  • I am currently unhoused and staying at Van Buren/Harvey Court/Choices. Can I still get clothes? How do I do that?
    • Yes, Charity Newsies serves families in emergency shelters year round. If you are in a shelter and need assistance, please talk to your case worker and they will assist in your application.
  • Can you share the sizing guide that you all use?
    • No, we do not have a sizing guide that we are able to offer. Different companies and brands have items of the same size that do not always match one another.  Charity Newsies does its best to try and match what is requested, but there may be slight differences from what was expected.  Please be sure to check these items before leaving Charity Newsies’s premises after clothing pick up.
  • What if no one can pick up for me?
    • Unfortunately it is the client’s responsibility to pick up or coordinate pick up of a clothing order. Charity Newsies is unable to offer any sort of delivery on behalf of a client outside of the emergency clothing applications at select homeless shelters.