CANNON BEACH Janice Sparks has 47 boxes of childrens clothes in her garage, and she plans to give them and even more away.

On Nov. 9, Sparks will open the Free Kids Clothes Closet in the Rebekah Lodge, 710 12th Ave in Seaside. From 3 to 6 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, she will receive donations and offer clothes to families who cannot afford to buy childrens clothing.

The nonprofit project is sponsored by the North Coast Family Fellowship.

I can help families with their budgets, Sparks said. If they dont have to spend money on their childrens clothing, they can spend it on food and gas.

Through her involvement with North Coast Family Fellowship, Sparks has come into contact with several families from South County who need help making it from paycheck to paycheck.

I help them find community resources, she said. Sometimes they fall through the cracks. God just gives them to me.

She draws on her own past to help them.

I havent lived my life in the safe lane, Sparks said. So Ive had experience to pass on.

Ever since she moved to Cannon Beach six years ago, Sparks has been giving clothes away to families. She has gained a reputation among her friends as the person to go to when its time to clean out childrens closets.

They tell their friends, Dont take it to Goodwill, take it to Janice.

As a result, her garage is stacked with boxes of clothing, in good condition, sized 0 (newborn) to childs size 16.

Patterned after a Woodinville, Wash. clothes closet for newborns where Sparks used to volunteer, the clothes closet in Seaside offers an opportunity to continue to help the families she has become acquainted with. A similar clothes closet has been open for a while at the Warrenton First Baptist Church, but Sparks believes theres enough need for additional closet space.

Theyre serving as many as 40 children a week in Warrenton, Sparks said.

If children need more clothes than they can receive there, they are welcome at her space, she said.

She also is welcoming donors whose children have outgrown their clothes.

The more clothes we have, the more were able to give away, Sparks said.

Particularly needed are shoes. Kids 0 to 5 years old need sneakers. They often get holes in their sneakers, she said.

Boys pants size 5 and up also are requested. Boys wear out the knees on their pants. They like to slide on their knees at that age, she said.

Girls clothing size 10 and up also would be appreciated, Sparks added.

Collecting and giving away clothing, as well as assisting families who need help, comes naturally to her, she said.

When you retire, you have to do something you enjoy, Sparks said. For me, its not dancing, not singing. I cant act. I can mentor families as God gives them to me.