For many students, what they wear on the first day of school is critical. Yet many disadvantaged youth in Gilroy don’t have the privilege of going back-to-school shopping.
This fall, however, several community organizations and businesses stepped up to purchase more than $6,500 in back-to-school clothes for Gilroy students.
Members of the Gilroy Exchange Club purchased more than $2,600 in clothing for 26 children from disadvantaged families in Gilroy during an 8 a.m. back-to-school shopping spree at the Camino Arroyo Kohl’s department store Saturday. It was first of two back-to-school shopping events funded by the Exchange Club, which sponsors activities designed to benefit, award and develop the nation’s youth, promote crime prevention, serve senior citizens and recognize military and public safety service providers, according to the organization’s website.
The Exchange Club invited participating families classified as “very needy” by community organizations such as the Gilroy Compassion Center, St. Joseph’s Family Center, Gavilan College and Santa Clara Mental Health Services, according to Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner, who is also an Exchange Club Member.
Originally only able to sponsor a portion of the 65 children recommended the back-to-school shopping event, Exchange Club President Alan Ladd said that through an outpouring of generosity from Gilroyans, the group was able to sponsor all 65 students – a significant jump from last year’s 10, according to Turner.
The back-to-school shopping events are made possible by fundraising through the Exchange Club’s annual Harvest Dinner and silent auction held Nov. 1, along with community donations.
Ladd said the two largest sums, $1,000 and $3,000, were donated respectively by Mama Mias Italian Restaurant owner Majid Bahriny and Garlic Festival co-founder and Christopher Ranch founder, Don Christopher. The effort was also aided by the California Highway Patrol El Camino Foundation, a local nonprofit organization consisting largely of CHP officers and their spouses.
“It was totally unexpected, it is amazing how generous they are,” Ladd said. “They are two people in this town who are always giving.”
Armed with a 30 percent discount, two hours for shopping and pent-up excitement for their $100 shopping sprees, the first group of 26 schoolchildren and their parents swarmed the department store’s clothing racks in search of back-to-school outfits.
Parents and Exchange Club volunteers supervised the young shoppers during their spree and made sure the children got essentials such as socks and underwear before shopping for outfits and accessories.
“The Exchange Club sponsors helped us out and we had a great experience picking out clothes,” 33-year-old Jesse Orta said about his shopping trip with his 6-year-old son, Josiah Orta. “It was a great opportunity and it was great knowing that this program is helping out me and my son.”
After two hours of shopping and the swipe of the Exchange Club’s debit card, each child left the store with a sizable bag of clothing for this upcoming school year and a volley of hugs and support from Exchange Club volunteers.
While the school-aged shoppers were ecstatic to receive a free shopping spree, the day came as a relief for parents who are facing hard times financially.
A difficult economy has left some parents such as 38-year-old Cynthia Camarillo on a tight budget.
Camarillo, who went shopping with her 6-year-old daughter Savannah Camarillo, said, “It was quite an honor to be selected. It was an amazing experience. I have four children so having help with one is a lot of help.”
Similarly, the mother of 7-year-old Princess Vasquez, Veronica Rodriguez, 44, said the shopping spree alleviated the stress of finding a way to buy new clothes for her daughter.
“We are living in a motel and are trying to make ends meet,” Rodriguez said. “This was a blessing, we were able to buy things Princess needed without worrying about how to pay for it.”
The next shopping experience is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 7 at the Camino Arroyo Kohl’s. Ladd said students and parents will be escorted by CHP officers, Exchange Club members and their spouses during the September “Shop with a Cop” event. The El Camino Club sponsored 25 students and the Exchange club will sponsor the remaining 14 students.
Those interested in learning more about the Exchange Club can contact the President Alan Ladd via email: la******@ve*****.net.
