A group of community members is taking
”
small steps
”
to ensure that disadvantaged students in the county have enough
warm clothes for winter.
On Nov. 1, 300 students will shop at Target and Payless
ShoeSource for a winter coat and shoes. Small Steps, a local
non-profit group, is organizing the fifth annual event.
A group of community members is taking “small steps” to ensure that disadvantaged students in the county have enough warm clothes for winter.
On Nov. 1, 300 students will shop at Target and Payless ShoeSource for a winter coat and shoes. Small Steps, a local non-profit group, is organizing the fifth annual event.
Students who participate in the shopping spree are nominated by their teachers from all of the county’s schools. Students are age birth to eighth grade.
“The teachers see the children every single day – they know which students are coming to school without the proper clothing,” said Sally Silva, one of Small Step’s 10 committee members.
Once students are nominated, any brothers and sisters are also invited to participate, Silva said, because the organization doesn’t want just one child in the family getting new clothes.
Last year, 215 students shopped. Small Steps members want to see 300 children get coats and shoes this year. Since each child receives $75 to shop, Small Steps will need $22,500 in donations.
“In order to accomplish this year’s goal of 300 school children, we need help from the community,” Silva said. “The community has always been very generous. Even Target and Payless are very generous.”
This is the only activity Small Steps organizes, and committee members ensure that all donations are spent by the students.
“Every single penny actually goes to the children,” Silva said. “I end up crying every time. Some of these children have never gone shopping, or purchased or had new clothes. These children really are in need. When you see their smile at the end of the day, it’s really worth it, it’s really gratifying.”
If the children spend less than the $75 on the coat and shoes, they spend the rest of the money on other clothes or school supplies. The students are encouraged to spend “every last cent,” Silva said.
McDonald’s provides breakfast for the children and local businesses donate goody bags for the kids that include toothbrushes, fruit, crayons and coloring books.
On top of donations, Small Steps needs volunteers to shop with the kids, hand out refreshments and collect garbage the day of the event. The group needs one volunteer per child shopping plus the additional tasks. Volunteers must be 16 years old and under go a Megan’s Law background check.
For more information on the event, call Bianchi, Lorincz & Co. at 638-2111. Donations, made out to Small Steps, can be mailed to Small Steps, P.O. Box 2137, Hollister, CA 95024.
