Anchorage kids get free back-to-school clothes through the Clothesline Project

Anchorage students carried home bags of free clothing from Clark Middle School on Saturday, and by one Anchorage School Board member's account, plenty of families needed it. "The crowd was large. The need is great," the member said Tuesday. Families also found a DJ, free food and games.

The giveaway is the Clothesline Project, hosted by Anchorage Cops for Community for students in grades K-12. The group says it has provided clothing and back-to-school essentials at no cost to more than 10,000 students over the past decade, with each child picking clothes in their own size and style. The city's public health clinic also offers routine childhood vaccinations at the event.

The board member thanked Cops for Community and its partners, and reminded families that the district's back-to-school checklist mailer is out, with more on the back-to-school webpage.