Back to School Shop Providing Free Clothing, Materials to Students for 11th Year
Local Nonprofit’s Event Will Welcome 550+ Children
STAMFORD — Volunteers with an organization in the city are once again hosting an event for under-resourced students to get many of the items they need to succeed during the upcoming school year. This Sunday, July 27, Back to School Shop, Inc. (BTSS) will host their 11th annual gathering with over 550 elementary school students being able to obtain free materials like clothing, books, and more.
“Over 50% of Stamford students are considered economically disadvantaged, and many return to school each year without basic clothing and school supplies," Back to School Shop Co-Founder Meryl Japha said. “Back to School Shop’s mission is to provide these children in our community with brand new items for school, to help build the confidence and enthusiasm they need for a successful start to the new school year.”
With help from personal shopping assistants, a BTSS press advisory stated, children in attendance at a location provided upon registration will be able to collect various clothes including a hoodie, two shirts, pants, a winter coat, underwear gloves, a sweatshirt, hand-made hats by local knitters, a winter coat, and sneakers.
“On behalf of everyone at Stamford Public Schools, I would like to thank Back to School Shop for helping to ensure every student can start the school year feeling prepared and confident,” Stamford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero said. “We are grateful to the volunteers and donors who continue to make this crucial program possible for Stamford’s families year after year.”
Additionally, the children will be able to choose a new backpack, a book for their grade level, a lunch box, and a reusable water bottle. All items available for students to select from are brand new and provided at no cost to them.
Author Akeem Roberts will make an appearance to give participating children signed copies of his new book, Class Pet Ghost Detective Case #1, What Happened to the Naked Mole Rat?
All clothing and school supplies are acquired with funding raised by individuals, foundations, and other organizations. Students selected to participate in the event were identified by social workers in the school district.
“We purchase a lot of extras to make sure that even the last child through the shop will have a wide selection of items,” BTSS Co-Founder Jane Levene said. “We want these kids to have the same experience here that they would have if they were shopping in a department store.”
While students take part in the shopping experience, their parental guardians will have access to the Japha Family Resource Center offering information about available resources and meet with representatives of more than a dozen participating community service organizations, including Building One Community, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, the City of Stamford Office of Community Engagement, Community Health Centers, and Connecticut Legal Services.
Some 200 community volunteers will serve as personal assistants for shopping, shoe fitters, section managers, administrators, and in other roles at the event.
Diamond Star sponsors for the event this year include Meryl and Ron Japha as well as the Toby Wintrub Charitable Foundation. Platinum Star sponsors are DSM Capital Partners, Audrey Gaelen, and the Jaideep and Rachel Khanna Foundation. Gold Star sponsors include Charlesanna and Bill Ecker, Nan and Paul Gordon, and Marsha Shendell.
According to the announcement, “Back to School Shop, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing elementary school children from low-income families in our community with brand new clothing and school supplies, to help build the confidence and enthusiasm they need for a successful start to the school year.”
For more details, visit backtoschoolshop.org.
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