Note in the Pocket
The Triangle
Our Mission
Note in the Pocket's mission is to provide quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with dignity and love. Note in the Pocket believes that it is unacceptable that children are limited in their educational and social development because they do not have appropriate clothes for school.
Our Vision
Note in the Pocket is improving educational equity by addressing clothing insecurity. The organization works to ensure every child is ready to rise — clothed in confidence, and seen as valuable, capable of learning and success, and worthy of love.
The Problem We Address
Clothing insecurity is an immense problem that lacks adequate attention. In 2023, 2 out of 5 children in the United States face clothing insecurity. This issue impacts a child socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. Currently, there is no federal or statewide funding, and few organizations address this issue on a large scale. Note in the Pocket is meeting a growing, critical need.
Our Story
In 2005, a recent college graduate began her dream job — teaching kindergarten to an underserved population in an impoverished school. She quickly realized that many children did not have seasonally appropriate clothing. Together with her mother, she purchased coats and sent one home with each child before temperatures dropped. A note was inserted into the pocket of each item, conveying a powerful message: you are loved.
What started as a one-family ministry in a single classroom in a single school has now spread to the entire community. In August 2011, Dallas Bonavita joined the effort and envisioned a model for continuous but controlled incoming donations and outgoing clothing packages. Note in the Pocket became an official nonprofit in August 2013 and has experienced tremendous growth in every subsequent year.
In 2020, Note in the Pocket launched its Emergency Clothing Effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced Pocket Pop Up clothing events. In 2023, the organization officially became a Triangle region-wide serving agency, opening a new program location in Durham in January 2024. In the fall of 2024, Note in the Pocket launched a clothing distribution model that can be replicated in other counties in North Carolina and, one day, nationally.
Our Approach
Note in the Pocket partners with school social workers and human service agencies in the Triangle to distribute clothing to children and families experiencing homelessness and economic hardship. When a referral partner identifies a child experiencing clothing insecurity, they send a request for the sizes and type of clothing needed. Each Mini-Wardrobe includes two weeks' worth of outfits in specific sizes — new socks and underwear, shoes, a variety of tops and bottoms to mix, match, and layer, and any outerwear appropriate to the season.
The organization's model strives to remove some of the stigma that goes along with needing help. Families do not have to go to a location to pick through the leftovers of donated clothing. A wardrobe is lovingly selected for that individual by a volunteer and delivered directly to the referring agency.
Our Impact
Clothed 11,000+ children and adults in 2025
Delivered 251,970 clothing items in 2025
Clothed over 75,000+ individuals since 2013
Delivered over 1,000,000 items of clothing since 2013
Hosted 57 Pocket Pop Up events since 2020
Partnered with 9,935 volunteers in 2025, providing 41,820 hours of service
Goal: clothe 12,700 children and families in 2026
Programs
- Community Board
- Teen Board
- Socks & Undie 5K Rundie
noteinthepocket.org