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Partnership supplies school clothing
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Nearly 100 children gathered at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 79th and Peoria avenues in Peoria Wednesday morning, as part of the Salvation Army's effort to help those in need get ready for school.
The Salvation Army, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club, supplied area families with $100 to spend toward new clothes and school supplies. The day before, more than 100 children in Surprise participated in a similar event. Norma Rogers, envoy in charge of the Salvation Army of Sun City, said planning for Tuesday and Wednesday began months ago.
PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to see more images from the back-to-school shopping spree.
"We start getting prepared probably six months beforehand," Rogers said. "It takes a lot of time and effort to make sure we're ready, but of course it is worth it in the end."
Stephanie Marz, a volunteer with the Peoria Rotary Club, was snapping photos of the families as they signed in Tuesday. Marz said she and her fellow volunteers get a lot of satisfaction from helping with events like this one.
"This is what we do, you know? This is what we're about," Marz said. "We exist as an organization to help those who need it. I love being here."
Rogers said just volunteers helped with the event, including several people from the community who came on their own.
Without volunteers, Rogers said, this week's back-to-school events and others like it would be difficult to get off the ground.
"It would be impossible without them here," Rogers said. "Especially with days like today. Some of these families have several children, and if the mother had to do all the shopping herself, it would be very overwhelming. The volunteers take a lot of pressure off them and help them find the best deals."
Rogers said a letter is sent to all the schools in the area and after that, it's a matter of helping as many children as possible.
"We help everyone," Rogers said. "We don't discriminate. If there is a need, we are here for them. As long as they fill out all the paperwork we require and provide the identification we require, we will help."
Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.
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