Every so often, I’m reminded of what we’re capable of when we come together as neighbors. The annual Clothesline Project in Anchorage is one of those reminders, and it is inspiring. 

It’s a day in August when over 200 volunteers, community partners, and Alaskans gather, this year in the rain, with a single goal: to make sure students are clothed and ready for the school year ahead. 

I’ve been lucky to witness the growth of the Clothesline Project almost from its very beginning. What started as a heartfelt idea from the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association has grown into an annual event that brings together an entire community in the spirit of helping others. 

Volunteers in blue shirts hand out clothing from large boxes arranged on tables in a sunny outdoor parking lot. Families walk through the rows carrying bags, selecting items, and talking with each other.

Organized by Anchorage Cops for Community, a nonprofit organization, the Clothesline Project is about more than clothes, coats and boots. Over the past decade, thanks to hundreds of volunteers and generous sponsors, the event has provided clothing and school essentials—at no cost—to more than 10,000 students in Anchorage. It has become a place where neighbors connect, families feel supported, and children leave with not just what they need, but the reassurance that their community cares. 

This year marked the 11th anniversary—and the largest event yet. In just four hours, nearly 2,000 people came through the line at the Clark Middle School football field. Because of community support, the Clothesline Project distributed: 

  • 1,500+ pairs of boots 
  • 1,000+ winter jackets 
  • Around 1,000 pairs of socks and underwear 
  • 900+ handmade winter hats 
  • 1,000+ hygiene kits 
  • Hundreds of free haircuts and bicycle helmets 
  • School supplies, hot meals, and thousands of gently used clothing items 

Those numbers tell a story of generosity, of caring, of commitment to each other. But the deeper story is the collaboration behind it. 

Three Rasmuson Foundation staff smile for a selfie at the Clothesline Project event, wearing matching blue volunteer shirts. Behind them are tents, people, and a large black vehicle set up for the community event.
Each year, Rasmuson Foundation staff volunteer at the Clothesline Project, helping with everything from sorting donations to assisting on event day. Pictured here in 2023 are Monica Terrones Vargas, Emily Cho, and me.

Kaladi Brothers Coffee hosted clothing drives throughout Anchorage months ahead of the event. Nuvision Credit Union provided boots. Knights of Columbus donated jackets. Raising Cane’s made sure students had socks and underwear. AB Hair Studio had ten barbers working nonstop. Superman Moving and Matson Shipping provided extensive logistical support. And dozens of other businesses and individuals offered their time, resources, and skills to ensure every family felt supported. 

This is Alaska at its best. 

At Rasmuson Foundation, one of our guiding principles comes from our founders: “Helping others is an Alaska tradition.“ That spirit is alive in the Clothesline Project. It reminds me why I love this place. It reminds me of what’s possible when we all show up. And it gives hope—not just for next year’s event, but for the kind of community we’re building together.