CCCC and Mervyn’s spree helps families

When one of Teresa Ortiz’ children became ill on August 11, she may have thought an opportunity to outfit her children for school for free was lost. Two of her children had been scheduled to take part in the Mervyn’s ChildSpree along with 38 other Kern County children but the illness forced Ortiz to cancel. All was not lost. Community Connection for Child Care and Mervyn’s California at East Hills Mall re-scheduled the family for August 17.

clothing8-20-2001: Community Connection for Child Care Program Facilitator Ariadna Figueroa smiles approvingly at one of the outfits 11 year-old Sara Janis has selected during her ChildSpree shopping at Mervyn’s California at East Hills Mall. Family emergencies are nothing new for Mervyn’s and Community Connection for Child Care (CCCC). They have collaborated for seven years giving low incomes families a $100 shopping spree so that they might have the clothes needed to go back to school. CCCC provides a list of the deserving families and Mervyn’s pays for the shopping spree.

“We select from low income families that are in our database to whom CCCC pays for subsidized child care,” said Program Supervisor Grace Thomas. “The number of children in the family is a factor, too.”

Ortiz, who is a certified nurse assistant, is a single mother with three children. She plans on going back to school to attain her licensed vocational nurse credential in the future.

“Things are short right now and this helps out,” Ortiz said of the shopping spree. “It’s definitely giving my children a head start.”

Parents fill out a form which they return to CCCC that contains sizes, colors and special requests such as whether the clothing must be school uniform approved. Within those boundaries, the children have free reign to offer their preferences once the spree begins.

Although children are normally given two hours for the spree, it didn’t take five year-old Tudor or his 11 year-old sister, Sara Janis, long to find what they wanted first. Both went right to the shoe section and picked out a brand new pair of tennis shoes. According to Thomas, the spree gives children a level playing field to begin the school year by providing them with the needed clothing styles that other children are wearing. It also elevates their self esteem.

Tudor and Sara selected uniforms of shirts and shorts, skirts (in Sara’s case) as well as socks and underwear. Sara decided on a blue jacket. “I like the color,” she said.

At the end of the spree, after everything had been rung up on the cash register, another treat awaited the brother and sister - new backpacks courtesy of Mervyn’s. Inside were pencils and paper and coupons for money off on other needed school supplies.

“I like the stuff in the backpack,” a smiling Tudor said.

Teresa Ortiz was equally grateful extending her hand to Thomas and CCCC Program Facilitator Ariadna Figueroa and with a beaming smile she humbly told them, “Thank you and thank you, Mervyn’s.”

“It’s heart warming to me to see the compassion Mervyn’s has for these families,” Thomas said. “It would break my heart if they had to go to school without new shoes and clothes.”

“Seeing the reaction on their faces made me understand why this is so special,” added Figueroa, who participated for the first time. “I shopped with Sara, and she was really happy that she got to choose shoes. When she found the pair she wanted, it was such a thrill seeing her eyes light up as she said, ‘Ooh, I want these shoes,’ and we were able to get them for her.”

Afterwards, the Ortiz family was treated to breakfast at McDonald’s by Mervyn’s before they caught the GET bus for their return home following a rewarding day of shopping.
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