Every year BCD accumulates an enormous amount of lost and found clothing. Even with heroic attempts to reunite these lost items to their owners, at the end of the year BCD makes a generous donation to one of Berkshire County’s charitable organizations. As a parent, I have lamented the loss of many, often expensive, items of clothing. I am sure that our children mourn the loss of a favorite jacket, sweater or hat. It is hard to understand why it seems so difficult ( nay impossible) for all these clothes to make their way back home.
Do not dismay, there is hope. I have found a sure fire way to ensure that any (yes, any) lost and found item can find its way back home – name tags. I can guarantee that if an item of clothing or other personal item has a child’s name written on a tag, it will get returned. There are several options available to make this happen. With some items, you can write your child’s name with a permanent marker or fabric pen. Some clothing, like jackets, even supply a specific tag where the name can be written. One of my favorite methods, being a summer camp person, is iron on name tags. These are personalized, iron on tags that are available through several online stores. I have provided links to a few of sights.
What should you label? Here are just a few thoughts: jackets, sweaters, shirts, pants, shoes, gloves, hats, calculators, ipods, packpacks, and lunch boxes. Edible items, friends and family pets are not a good idea.
We will continue to work diligently to return lost items to their rightful owners. My hope is that someday, lost and found will be a thing of the past.
