About Us
Our Team
We're new and still getting started. The offical team right now just consists of our Founder/CEO Alexis Berson (a 16-year old 10th grader). We plan to grow by adding an amazing team of volunteers and other organizations who are committed to helping others. Think you would be a good fit? Contact us!
Our History
While shopping for my Halloween costume in 2018 at one of the large costume "pop-up" shops, I noticed just how many kids each year buy new costumes. And I noticed how expensive costumes (and props) actually are. I asked my dad if everyone could afford to buy new costumes every year and started thinking about how I might be able to help others who may not be as fortunate. After trick or treating, I threw off my costume to check out my candy haul and put it in my closet (with all of the other old and unused costumes from prior years). And that's when I had an idea... what if I collected costumes from other kids and donated them to kids who can't afford new costumes every year? It also fit right in with the theme for my 5th grade year at the time which was sustainability. SO, I decided to make it happen. So in 2019 we collected about 1,000 costumes after Halloween, received an AMAZING partnership offer from Westbank Cleaners to store and clean our costumes, partnered with Generation Serve to have several sorting events, and were getting ready to distribute in 2020 through our partnership with Neighborhood Longhorns... and then Covid. So, suspended distribution of costumes for 2020 but in 2021 we had a huge event with neighborgood longhorns and distributed all the previously collected costumes. Then again last year we also distributed costumes. In 2023 we donated over 1,000 costumes and props to 6 schools in the Neighborhood Longhorns program! This year we are excited about some possible partnerships and hope to make it one of our biggest collection years yet!
Our Mission
1) We will enlist a team of volunteers to create , distribute, and manage costume collection boxes at sites all over the city.
2) We will partner with a local volunteer organization to help collect, sort, and organize all collected costumes and props.
3) We will find a partner to store the sorted costumes and props until next summer.
4) We will partner with a local dry cleaner to clean and make ready for distribution all costumes and components.
5) We will utilize our partnership with the local volunteer organization to help cultivate and staff distribution sites (churches, schools, community gathering places) in areas of the city that have the highest need.
6) We will promote the pickup sites through social media, local news outlets, and community leaflets.
7) Depending on the number of costumes collected (goal is 600 each year) we will determine an appropriate number of distribution sites and dates, and will work with our volunteer organization to staff the distribution sites for each distribution date.
8) We will not charge for the costumes, but will have an optional donation (typically a couple of dollars per costume) which will be used to help defray costs with any overage being donated to other local non profits.
9) We will repeat the cycle each year
What We Do
We're a non-profit startup that collects gently used Halloween costumes and distributes them to community members who may not have the ability to purchase new costumes every year.
Volunteer & Partnership Opportunities
Collection
Volunteer to create a collection box (or a few) and find great places around the city to place the boxes for costume collection... possibly schools, churches, or extracurricular spots around town
Pickup/Sorting/Administrative
Volunteer to work with collection volunteers to gather all costumes, sort and organize so we can catalog our costumes that we have to distribute, and work with our storage and dry cleaning partner to coordinate timing
Distribution
Volunteer to help coordinate distribution sites and staff the distribution centers on our costume distribution day(s)
Corporate Opportunities
We're looking for a dry cleaning partner, retail businesses willing to have collection boxes out before Halloween and November 1st through Thanksgiving, and anyone with storage space to allow us to store the costumes before and after cleaning until distribution dates.
Austin360 - Austin American Statesman - November, 6, 2019
What to do with old Halloween costumes: Austin fifth grader starts donation drive
Dillo Details: Hill Elementary School Newsletter (3 week run)
Hill Elementary is thrilled to partner with Kostumes for Kids
Image Gallery
Our fearless leader Alexis preparing for her interview on KXAN
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
Kids having fun wrapping the collection boxes. Thanks everyone!
Read the article and see the news spot!
A Big thanks to KXAN
Kids having fun wrapping the collection boxes. Thanks everyone!
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
Kids having fun wrapping the collection boxes. Thanks everyone!
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
She's excited to pitch in and help decorate collection boxes!
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
Spending the afternoon at Generation Serve Headquarters preparing the collection boxes
All the Generation Serve proud volunteers show their completed donation boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
Alexis placing costumes in the donation box at Snap Kitchen!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
Alexis placing costumes in the donation box at Snap Kitchen!
One of our first donation boxes!
So thankful that my friends and family were here to help put together our collection boxes!
Alexis placing costumes in the donation box at Snap Kitchen!
St. Andrew's Episcopal School Collection Box
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Alexis was given the opportunity to address the students and faculty at St. Andrews Episcopal School to tell them all about Kostumes for Kids!
Alexis was given the opportunity to address the students and faculty at St. Andrews Episcopal School to tell them all about Kostumes for Kids!
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Alexis was given the opportunity to address the students and faculty at St. Andrews Episcopal School to tell them all about Kostumes for Kids!
Alexis on air with KXAN
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
Tierra Niebaum at Fox News set up a feature for Kostumes for Kids and Alexis on the morning https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/1806870a-ccce-4467-aacc-47cc6264982c/3656F073-361F-45EA-86CD-0DCF048B0352.JPG/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.5%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:730,h:730,cg:truenews
More Pictures!
Current Box Locations
Maudie's Tex-Mex
Currently, we have collection boxes out at four Maudies Locations: Maudie's lake Austin, Maudie's Milagro, Maudie's Hacienda, and Maudie's Hill Country!
Amy's Icecream and Phil's Icehouse
We have a box out in the shared lobby of Phil's Icehouse and Amy's Icecream on Burnet Road. Enjoy a nice meal and drop off a costume!
Local Foods
From now until October 22nd drop off costumes and grab an AMAZING meal at the Local Foods on 2nd and San Antonio street in downtown Austin!
A HUGE Shoutout to our MAJOR Partners
A Special Thanks to all of our Partners & Supporters
We would also like to thank:
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Public Relations Superstar
Jennifer Winograd
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Social Media Rockstar
Bella Berson
Melissa Rubenstein Levin
Bella Berson
Most Loving Dogstar