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By Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
What started as a grassroots movement is quietly transforming the way local children experience the simple dignity of having enough clothing. Boxes of Basics, a nonprofit founded by Sarah Tyndall, now serves children in Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and extends its reach into Fauquier County, Fairfax County, and beyond. The organization’s mission is simple: provide complete, personalized wardrobes to children who need them, while preserving their privacy and sense of self-worth. Through powerful collaborations, they are meeting that mission, one child at a time.
From Couch to Community
Boxes of Basics began not in a boardroom but in Tyndall’s basement — as she tells it, “on my couch.” The idea took root after she saw a plea on social media for children’s clothing. “I put out a simple request on Facebook asking for clothing in specific sizes, and the response was overwhelming,” she recalled. “I received enough clothing to fill my SUV twice.”
The experience revealed three key truths to Tyndall. First, the donated clothing was of remarkable quality. Second, people were eager to help if given clear direction. Third, she discovered clothing insecurity, which is the reality that families struggling with basic needs often cannot afford suitable clothing for their children.
Determined to offer more than just a bag of clothes, Tyndall crafted the first “Box of Basics” as she would for her own children, ensuring each item was thoughtfully selected and attractively presented. “I wanted it to feel like a gift,” she said.
That presentation has grown since. Today, each box includes four school outfits, four play outfits, a dressy outfit, pajamas, new shoes, socks, underwear, a winter coat, a hygiene kit, a STEM activity, and two age-appropriate books. Outfits are individually wrapped and labeled, so “when a child opens their box, it’s like opening a present.”
The initiative, launched in 2018, quickly outgrew its space. In its first year, over 100 volunteers joined the effort, she said. Now, the organization operates from two warehouse locations, employs five part-time staff members, engages nearly 1,000 volunteers per year, and has packed and delivered nearly 10,000 Boxes of Basics to local children.
A Model Built on Privacy and Dignity
Boxes of Basics distinguishes itself by its referral-based, privacy-centered model. “We have never directly met the children or families we help, and that is by design,” Tyndall explained. Over 170 referral partners, including teachers, counselors, social workers, homeless shelters, and food pantries, submit requests through an online portal, providing only essential information such as sizes and preferences. Even the child’s full name is not required.
Once a referral arrives, volunteers assemble a personalized box. Referral partners then deliver the boxes to families, or a volunteer driver ensures the package makes it to the referring organization. “By working through trusted professionals who already know the family, we ensure that children receive clothing while also remaining connected to additional resources and support services,” Tyndall said.
Boxes of Basics focuses exclusively on children’s clothing and books, declining donations of furniture, toys, or household items. “We are in the business of children’s clothing, and we do that very well. Staying focused allows us to maximize our impact and serve children effectively,” she explained.
Working Together: I-66 Express Mobility Partners
Sustaining an operation of this scale requires community support, and one of Boxes of Basics’ valued partnerships is with I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP), the builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway in Prince William County. “What makes I-66 EMP especially meaningful is that they were one of our very first annual corporate partners,” Tyndall said.
Nancy H. Smith, director of corporate affairs at I-66 EMP, recalled their first interaction: “We first met Sarah Tyndall at a Prince William Chamber of Commerce event in early 2023, shortly after the 66 Express Outside the Beltway had opened,” she said. “It was clear from the beginning that Boxes of Basics was making a meaningful difference in our community, and we knew it was an organization we wanted to support and partner with for the long term.”
The partnership began with a $5,000 contribution in 2023 and has since grown to include annual sponsorships, event support, volunteer activities, and employee giving initiatives. In addition to total financial contributions exceeding $25,000, I-66 EMP employees regularly volunteer at the warehouse, assembling boxes and seeing firsthand the care put into each package. “These events are always meaningful for our team,” said Smith, adding that the company’s community investment strategy is deeply rooted in supporting local impact.
Boxes of Basics’ Manassas warehouse is full
Expanding Impact: Teen and Workforce Development Programs
Boxes of Basics extends its mission beyond clothing with programs designed to engage the community. Sally Vermilyea Crockett, Program Director and Teen Board Advisor, described the Teen Board, launched in 2024, as a way for local high school students to “make a direct impact in their community while developing leadership and service skills.” The program brings together students from multiple counties for service projects, outreach, and nonprofit education.
The organization’s Workforce Development Program provides individuals with disabilities with real-world job and life skills. Each month, students from local high schools and adults from organizations such as ServiceSource visit the warehouse to participate in structured activities. “These hands-on tasks help participants build valuable workplace skills, including time management, following directions, communication, teamwork, organization, and collaboration,” Crockett said.
Both programs, according to Crockett, reflect a core principle: “We activate the community to benefit the community.” Participants are not only receiving services but are also actively helping others, strengthening the fabric of the entire region.
A Mission That Resonates
Tyndall’s passion for the cause is rooted in her role as a mother. “The thought of a child going to school in shoes that don’t fit, without a warm winter coat, or feeling embarrassed because they have to wear the same clothing each day — that is simply not acceptable to me,” she said. Clothing insecurity is a solvable problem, according to Tyndall, one that impacts not only physical comfort but also confidence and mental well-being. The organization’s model brings together schools, businesses, churches, civic groups, government agencies, and volunteers, reminding children “that they matter, they are valued, and they are loved.”
Getting Involved
Boxes of Basics is built and powered by the community. “Every box we provide is made possible by donors, volunteers, businesses, churches, schools, and community partners who believe that every child deserves the basics,” Tyndall said. The organization encourages involvement through volunteering, hosting donation drives, contributing clothing, attending events, or supporting financially. Especially meaningful is the GEM (Give Every Month) program, which allows a modest monthly donation to provide a child with a complete seasonal wardrobe.
For more information and to donate or volunteer, visit BoxesOfBasics.org.
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt has written for Prince William Living for more than 10 years. An advocate for giving back and an award-winning author and poet, she can be reached through her website, KatherineGotthardt.com.
