MILWAUKEE — For Mariah Smith, a new outfit is about more than looking good on the first day of school.
It's about giving a child one less thing to worry about when they walk into the classroom.
Smith, an educator and founder of First Day Fits, brought the event back to Milwaukee's Sherman Park for its fifth year Sunday, providing children and families with new clothes, shoes, haircuts, hair braiding, food and other resources ahead of the new school year.
"I see the importance of a kid going to school feeling confident, not worried about someone making fun of them," Smith said.
Smith said the idea for First Day Fits grew out of her experiences with students as an educator.
She remembers one student who typically kept to himself. Then one day, he arrived at school wearing a new Nike hoodie.
Watch: First Day Fits helps Milwaukee kids start school with confidence and new clothes
"He bounced to me and he goes, 'Mrs. Mariah, check out my new merch,'" Smith recalled.
But what happened next stuck with her even more.
"That day I had never seen him answer as many questions," Smith said. "He was raising his hands. He was participating."
Another experience showed Smith the more painful side of what clothing can mean to a child.
She said a K4 student experiencing homelessness was being teased by classmates because of her clothes.
"Kids were making fun of her. They didn't wanna play with her," Smith said.
Educators helped get the child new clothing. Smith said afterward, she watched the way other students treated the girl change.
"Kids all of a sudden want to be friends with her again," Smith said. "Those two together are what led me to create this."
More than new clothes
Five years later, First Day Fits has grown into a larger back-to-school community event.
Families at Sunday's event could receive brand-new outfits, while Jacarrie Kicks for Kids provided shoes. Dream Team United offered groceries, and families could also find free food, bounce houses, face painting and henna.
Hair braiders and barbers were also on hand to help children complete their first-day look.
Smith said additional sponsors this year allowed First Day Fits to purchase more clothing and expand the services available to families.
She has seen firsthand what that assistance can mean for parents.
"I've had parents cry to me," Smith said. "They're like, 'We didn't know what we were gonna do this year. We didn't know how we were gonna get our kids clothes.'"
Smith recalled one family that was able to get clothing for all nine of its children through First Day Fits.
"So the impact goes deep," she said.
For Smith, helping children feel supported can also carry into the classroom.
"It's important because kids need to come to school and feel confident," Smith said.
She said a student worried about being teased for what they're wearing may have a harder time concentrating as teachers introduce expectations and routines at the beginning of the year.
"I think it's important to walk in confident, feeling cool, feeling supported, feeling loved," Smith said. "Having people there for you — I think that's what this is for."
Five years, five scholarships
This year's fifth anniversary also carries a deeply personal meaning for Smith.
First Day Fits includes what Smith calls the Roz Fit Scholarship, created in memory of her younger sister, Roz, who Smith said was killed in gun violence three years ago.
Smith remembers her sister as someone who took pride in putting together the perfect outfit.
"She used to be the freshest person," Smith said. "From her hat down to her shoes, everything matched, everything was coordinated."
In previous years, Smith said she typically selected two or three children for a shopping trip in her sister's memory.
For the fifth anniversary, she's increasing that number to five.
Smith said five children will each receive a $100 shopping scholarship, and she will personally take them shopping.
"This year it's gonna be really special because it's year five," Smith said.
For an event built around clothes, Smith says the larger goal has remained the same since it began: making sure children know someone is looking out for them.
"Making sure kids are able to just worry about what they need to worry about," Smith said. "Walk in confident, feeling cool, feeling supported, feeling loved."
First Day Fits is a nonprofit organization. Smith said people interested in supporting its work or learning about future events can find First Day Fits on Facebook.
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