Reduce, reuse, recycle. We often hear that mantra, but did you ever think of it in terms of clothes?

Handed-down clothing is one of the oldest forms of recycling. Kids so often outgrow their clothes before they wear them out, if we all passed around our children’s clothes, we’d put the retailers out of business.

On Sept. 20, the third Baby and Kids Clothing Exchange was held at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center. The concept was simple: Bring in the clothes that your kids have outgrown and take home some in the size you need. Families donated children’s clothes and other baby items, such as toys and baby monitors. Maternity and nursing clothes were accepted as well.

The first hour and a half was dedicated to those donating and/or trading clothes, and the last half hour was open to those families in need of free clothing.

Organizer Kim Chan got the idea from a newspaper article about a group of women in Seattle who did a kid’s clothing exchange in an attempt to reduce consumption.

“I read the article and thought, ‘What a great idea,’” Chan said. “Most of us don’t have a lot of extra money to buy our kids new clothes every six months. Plus, it’s a great way to recycle.”

Many local businesses stepped up to help. The Fred Meyer store in Covington lent clothing racks to hang the clothes, and the Wilderness Village QFC donated paper bags. Several teens from Tahoma High School volunteered and earned community service credits. Frankie’s Pizza of Maple Valley donated pizzas to feed the many volunteers who showed up to help. Local businesses posted flyers, including Spanish-language flyers.

Others helped, as well. Becca Bowen, school counselor at Lake Wilderness Elementary School, contacted women’s shelters, Vine Maple Place and other organizations to make sure that families who might be in need were notified. Brandy Rowland, family services specialist at the community center, helped coordinate and worked at the event.

“We had more people at the end that needed free clothes than ever before,” Rowland noted. “There were tons of good quality clothes, even new clothes with tags. There were also a lot of maternity clothes this time.”

Each family in need has, in the previous exchanges, been allowed one paper bag of clothes per family. This time there was an abundance of clothes, and families could take as much as they needed. After everyone had their pick, any leftover clothes were then donated to charity.

“It’s about moms helping other moms. It brings everyone together,” Chan said.

She plans to organize another exchange in 2009. The date will be posted on the community center’s website at mvcc.org once it is scheduled.

Mary Sturgeon, who has volunteered at each of the exchanges, said, “It’s a great community event. That’s my favorite thing about it. The way the community and local businesses all work together is fantastic.”

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon, a homemaker and freelance writer, lives in Maple Valley. She can be reached at homespun@reporternewspapers.com.