(Note from the editor: This article originated as a photo essay for a public school project and appears with edits. While you'll see a charitable organization's name in a photo, no endorsement is intended.)

It's always been true that people in many places around the world lack the necessities of food and shelter. Also true is the fact that, right now, many people in our country focus on big efforts to help support the AIDS problem in Africa and other international causes that can be seen in the news. While these are good things to give attention to, they're not the only things we should look at.

A very real problem is that people—you and I—can't see that there is more than just AIDS and worldwide issues that need us; people in our own neighborhoods don't have enough clothes and shoes to keep them warm.

Everyday we drive by the big green boxes labeled "Clothes & Shoes." It's easy to think that this type of donation won't matter—or wonder if those clothes will actually get ...