Through a partnership with the YMCA of Southwest Michigan and JCPenney, Niles students in need will receive donated socks and underwear through the 2017 JCPenney Back to School Product Donation. This year, the YMCA of Southwest Michigan was selected as a recipient for the program.

Long-time national partner, JCPenney, conducted research to better understand the needs of low-income households. There was clear information on critical needs like food, clothing and safety/shelter. Through their research, they discovered that more than one third of American parents say they worry about their child having enough socks and underwear, and 55 percent of children who did not have underwear and socks to wear, wanted to skip school or refused to go to school due to embarrassment.

Every year, Ys around the country host back-to-school supply drives for the youth and families in their communities, and this back-to-school season, JCPenney supported the Y’s effort to set children up for success and also raise awareness for the Y’s cause with a product donation focused on clothing basic needs.

For each pack of kids’ socks or underwear sold Aug. 1 to Aug. 15, JCPenney donated a complimentary pack of socks or underwear to Y’s across the country (up to 750,000 pairs).

YMCA of Southwest Michigan was awarded:

• Ten boxes of boys’ underwear or 540 pairs

• Ten boxes of girls’ underwear or 540 pairs

• Sixty boxes of socks or 3,240 pairs

Shipment of the product was originally scheduled for September but due to product availability and shipping delays, the product was delivered this week to the Y.

YMCA of Southwest Michigan has contacted and will deliver a quarter of the shipment to each Benton Harbor Area Schools, Buchanan Community Schools, Brandywine Community Schools and Niles Community Schools to distribute the socks and underwear to area youth.