By Sosi Sengal, Staff Reporter
After the loss of her son Rob Ciocco in November 2021, Conestoga parent and Business Office secretary Alice Ciocco and her family decided to start RC Clothing, a platform that raises awareness and donations to help homeless people across Chester County. Understanding the difficulties in helping people facing mental health challenges, the Ciocco family believed it would be beneficial to lead with acts of kindness to help people stay safe while traveling at night. Donating reflective gear to those in need who walk at night became a priority.
RC Clothing’s mission is to aid homeless people in the Chester County community in a way other than shelter or treatment. It hopes to raise awareness about the daily risks the homeless community faces and encourage others to contribute through small but meaningful actions.
“Our mission is to provide warm, clean clothes that allow people struggling with homelessness, addiction or mental health issues the ability to be seen out in low visibility situations,” Alice Ciocco said. “It’s a small and simple act with significant impact.”
To kick off the initiative, the Ciocco family started an online fundraiser to garner support and funds. The family then began to work with multiple organizations across the Philadelphia area to expand RC Clothing.
“We started with a GoFundMe page for Rob and raised over $11,000,” Alice Ciocco’s daughter Nicole Ciocco said. “From there, we partnered with a nonprofit organization to help us transition into a nonprofit to help increase funding and supplies for the community.”
Afterward, the family began to work at local community events to raise awareness about the mission. The family decided to expand and partner with a wider range of platforms to grow the initiative.
“We have partnered with an online platform to sell T-shirts with the RC brand for fundraising and with the police departments to give gear to people in need,” Nicole Ciocco said. “We have also partnered with homeless shelters, rehabs and other community support for people in need.”
RC Clothing hopes to extend a helping hand to the Conestoga community as well. By donating reflective clothing and aiming to aid even those who do not seek help, the family aspires to create a safer and more compassionate environment for those in need.
“I truly hope that this helps people understand that we are not powerless. We can choose to do something,” Alice Ciocco said. “Any act of kindness can make a difference in this world. You never know whose life you may change for the better.”
Sosi Sengal can be reached at [email protected].
