Aren
’t small towns great? Here’s another example: ChildSpree, a
joint effort between service clubs, businesses and just plain
folks, gets together each summer to make sure underprivileged
students in Morgan Hill have new clothes and supplies for
school.
Aren’t small towns great? Here’s another example: ChildSpree, a joint effort between service clubs, businesses and just plain folks, gets together each summer to make sure underprivileged students in Morgan Hill have new clothes and supplies for school.
So far this year, the group has raised $23,000 – more is needed so get out your wallets – that will help 200 kids on a shopping “spree” Saturday morning at Mervyn’s in Cochrane Plaza. Mervyn’s is a co-sponsor of the event, supplying employees to help, a 10 percent discount on clothes (even those already marked down).
Gina Six is leading the affair this year, taking over after the recent death of Ken Tougas, a deeply committed volunteer who began the program in Morgan Hill. On Thursday Six and her volunteers, may of those from the Kiwansis Club, stuffed backpacks with school supplies.
The Lion’s Club will cook their famous pancake breakfast for children waiting to shop – all 200 can’t deluge the store at once. Volunteers, taking a list of clothes, shoes and accessories the children need, along with sizes all prepared by the parents, will go along with the kids to make their choices. Volunteers are there to guide: “No, a $100 pair of shoes is perhaps not the best way to spend your $100 back to school money; what about these over here …”
To raise money for ChildSpree, organizers held a rib feed – co-sponsored by Jesse Nazzal of Betsy’s Restaurant – that raised $5,000 and Rotary Club held a luncheon, which raised $4,000.
Abbott Labs, Associated Concrete, Country Golf Course, Betsy’s Restaurant, the San Martin and Morgan Hill Lion’s Clubs, and the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center all pitched in to help.
In Morgan Hill people see a need and go right out and fix it. The expected success of this year’s ChildSpree is a fitting tribute to Tougas who looked out for everybody and whom everybody loved in turn.
Details: to volunteer call 776-2791 or 776-3222. For donations call 782-8883 or 776-3222. Details may also be obtained by sending an e-mail to Six at gi**@yo************.com
