The Baltimore schools CEO, Andres Alonso, emailed a plea Thursday for donations to help pay for school uniforms for city kids. I picked this up from Noel Acton, who helps underprivileged boys and girls from the east side of town get back and forth to recreational activities. Here's the content of Alonso's letter:

I am writing to ask you to help our students and families afford the uniforms they need for school.

In the current economy, many Baltimore City Public Schools families are struggling more than ever to afford uniforms and supplies. Uniforms make our students feel more confident among their peers, and they go a long way to cultivating school spirit and a strong school culture conducive to learning and achievement.

To start the school year, we had a limited pool of funds for uniform assistance to needy families, thanks to a generous gift from The Women’s Giving Circle. But the response in the past week has been so overwhelming that the fund is already depleted. We have issued $10,000 in uniform vouchers to our students, and it appears we have only just begun to meet the need.

Please consider helping City Schools make sure all of our students are outfitted for school and able to start the new year fully ready to learn. Through our partnership with the Baltimore Community Foundation, you can make a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more to this cause. Click here to visit the Baltimore Community Foundation’s web site, or call City Schools’ Office of Partnerships, Communications and Community Engagement at 410-545-1870 for more information about the donation process.

I thank you for all that you do for our great kids and our schools.