VANDALIA — Our Father’s Keeper Ministries is gearing up for its second biannual free clothing exchange to help children and their families find back-to-school clothing.

OFFKM will host a free fall-winter children’s clothing exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Vandalia Youth Center, located at 18035 State St. Families are invited to attend the event, which will offer free and gently-used children’s clothes, shoes and gear donated by community members.

Event organizers are seeking donations from parents for the event and requesting gently-used children’s clothing, sizes newborn to 14, that are clean and stain free. Fall and winter apparel is preferred.

Community members may also drop off shoes, books, toys and other items their children have outgrown or no longer use.

“We are requesting anything your kids don’t use anymore that still has some life left in it,” said Bianca May, the co-founder and executive director of OFFKM.

Those who wish to donate clothing for the exchange may schedule a drop-off by calling (269) 476-1257. There will be three donation drop-off locations in Cassopolis, Dowagiac and Vandalia.

May said the children’s clothing exchange is similar to the popular Mom-2-Mom sales hosted across the Michiana area, where parents can find gently-used donated clothing items for their children. OFFKM’s exchange will not charge families for items.

“Our event is deliberately scheduled a week before the Mom-2-Mom sale in Granger,” May said. “Whatever they can’t find here, they can find at the event in Granger for a really low price.”

The Vandalia-based nonprofit, which May and her husband, Curtis, formed in 2012, is using the exchange to further its mission of trying to “be the village” and create a community centered on helping one another. OFFKM also offers a number of services including youth educational programs, child care for children of working single parents and transportation for those in need of assistance, May said.

OFFKM is asking for the public’s help the evening before the event. Volunteers may stop by the youth center from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 9 to help organize and set up the donated clothing items.

To learn more about OFFKM, visit its website at ourfathersfamilykeep.org.