What is the clothing bank request form template?
A clothing bank can only help as well as it knows who it's packing for. A request that says "clothes for the kids" leaves volunteers guessing at sizes, while a structured one — ages, clothing and shoe sizes, the items needed — means a bundle that fits first time.
This template collects requests from families themselves or from referring agencies. The first page records the requester, how they were referred and, optionally, what's happened. The second page adds up to four household members, each with who they are, age, clothing type and sizes. The third lists the items needed, asks whether anyone is without suitable clothing right now, and arranges collection, collection by the referrer or delivery.
Each request is saved as a PDF in your FileIt vault, so the packing team and the front desk work from the same details.
- Best for
- Clothing banks, baby banks, school uniform exchanges and community pantries
- Filled in by
- Families, or a caseworker or teacher on their behalf
- Time to complete
- About 5 minutes
- Includes
- Referral details, up to four household members with sizes, items checklist, urgency question, pickup or delivery and privacy consent
Who uses a clothing bank request form?
- A clothing bank accepting referrals from schools and social workers
- A baby bank taking requests for clothes, nappies and bedding
- A school uniform exchange before the new term
- A winter coat drive matching coats to children's sizes
- A refugee support group requesting clothing for newly arrived families
- A church clothing ministry taking requests ahead of its distribution day
Questions on this clothing bank request form
37 questions over 3 pages · includes conditional questions, multiple pages, consent checkbox.
1 About you
- Your name*
- Phone*
- Postcode or ZIP code*
- Preferred language
- How were you referred?* Self-referral · School · Social worker or caseworker · Health visitor or GP · Housing or refugee support · Food bank · Faith group
- Referring organisation* asked only when it applies
- Referrer's email asked only when it applies
- What's happened? (optional) Moved home or been rehoused · Leaving a refuge or unsafe situation · Fire, flood or loss · Newly arrived in the country · New baby · Starting school · Money is tight
2 Household & sizes
- Who is this?* Adult · Teenager · Child · Baby (0-2)
- Age
- Clothing Women's · Men's · Girls' · Boys' · Any
- Clothing size, shoe size and height if a child*
- Add another person?
- Who is this?* asked only when it applies Adult · Teenager · Child · Baby (0-2)
- Age asked only when it applies
- Clothing asked only when it applies Women's · Men's · Girls' · Boys' · Any
- Clothing size, shoe size and height if a child* asked only when it applies
- Add another person? asked only when it applies
- Who is this?* asked only when it applies Adult · Teenager · Child · Baby (0-2)
- Age asked only when it applies
- Clothing asked only when it applies Women's · Men's · Girls' · Boys' · Any
- Clothing size, shoe size and height if a child* asked only when it applies
- Add another person? asked only when it applies
- Who is this?* asked only when it applies Adult · Teenager · Child · Baby (0-2)
- Age asked only when it applies
- Clothing asked only when it applies Women's · Men's · Girls' · Boys' · Any
- Clothing size, shoe size and height if a child* asked only when it applies
3 Items & pickup
- Items needed* Everyday clothes · Winter coats · Shoes or boots · School uniform · Underwear and socks · Nightwear · Hats, gloves and scarves · Baby clothes · Nappies or diapers · Toiletries · Bedding and towels · Interview or work clothes
- Which school, for uniform? asked only when it applies
- Is anyone without suitable clothing right now?*
- Anything else we should know
- How would you like to receive the items?* I'll collect from the clothing bank · My referrer will collect · Delivery, if available
- Days that suit you asked only when it applies Monday · Tuesday · Wednesday · Thursday · Friday · Saturday
- Delivery address* asked only when it applies
- Best way to contact you* Phone call · Text message · Email · Through my referrer
- Privacy*
The clothing bank request form, page by page
1 About you
The requester gives their name, phone, email, postcode and preferred language. "How were you referred?" offers self-referral, school, social worker, health visitor, housing or refugee support, food bank or faith group — any referral other than self-referral asks for the referring organisation and the referrer's email. An optional question about what's happened, such as being rehoused or a new baby, helps prioritise urgent requests.
2 Household & sizes
Each person gets a short block: who they are (adult, teenager, child or baby), age, whether they need women's, men's, girls' or boys' clothing, and their clothing size, shoe size and height for a child. "Add another person?" reveals the next block, up to four people, with a note to list anyone else in the notes box.
3 Items & pickup
"Items needed" covers everyday clothes, coats, shoes, school uniform, underwear, nightwear, winter accessories, baby clothes, nappies, toiletries, bedding and work clothes — choosing school uniform asks which school. A required question asks whether anyone is without suitable clothing right now. Requesters add notes, choose collection, referrer collection or delivery — collection asks for suitable days and delivery for an address — pick the best way to contact them and agree to the privacy statement.
Make the template yours
- Edit the items list to match what you actually stock
- Add your opening hours and address in a paragraph on the pickup page
- Remove delivery if you don't deliver
- Require a referral by removing the self-referral option
- Change the sizing hint to your country's sizes
- Send referring agencies a separate link so you can see which requests came from partners
Tips for a better clothing bank request form
- Check the urgency answer first when you triage requests
- Keep the optional "what's happened" question optional — people shouldn't have to explain hardship to get help
- Ask families to update sizes when they make a repeat request, since children grow fast
- Print the PDF and attach it to the bundle so packing volunteers have the sizes in front of them
- Tell requesters how long a request usually takes in your confirmation message
Every response becomes a PDF in your vault
Each request is filed as a PDF in your FileIt vault, and the coordinator gets an email. The requester can get a copy of what they asked for.
From the Responses table you can see every open request, filter by pickup method or urgency, and export to a CSV to plan a distribution day.
- Start from this template. It opens in the FileIt Forms designer — change any question, add pages, set the rules for when questions appear.
- Share it. Turn on a public link, or send it to people by email, each with their own link. They don’t need a FileIt account.
- Get the answers as PDFs. Each response is saved as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, with uploaded files attached — and listed in a Responses table you can export to CSV.
Clothing bank request form: frequently asked questions
Is the clothing bank request form free?
Yes. It's one of the FileIt Forms starter templates, available on every plan.
Can a caseworker fill it in for a family?
Yes. Referrers choose how the family was referred, enter their organisation and email, and can choose to collect the items for the family.
What if the household has more than four people?
Requesters list the extra people and their sizes in the notes box. You can also add more person blocks in the designer.
Do families need to explain why they need help?
No. The question about what's happened is optional, and its help text says so.
Can people fill it in on a phone?
Yes. The form works in any phone browser, and no account is needed.
Can it be translated?
You can edit every label in the designer, so you can make a copy in another language for families who need it.