The South Bay Alliance is seeking donations to provide needy
children in Morgan Hill and San Martin with back-to-school
clothing, backpacks and school supplies.
The South Bay Alliance is seeking donations to provide needy children in Morgan Hill and San Martin with back-to-school clothing, backpacks and school supplies.
Gina Six, who supervises the Morgan Hill side of ChildSpree, said the volunteer group is seeking donations to help fund the program.
Mervyn’s will contribute the first $2,000 for 20 children’s shopping sprees. Six’s goal is 200 children. The estimated cost to give each child a $100 gift card for clothing, a backpack and all the usual school supplies is $125.
Six said to date ChildSpree has raised roughly half of its $25,000 goal for 200 children.
The students are selected from Morgan Hill School District rosters and Community Solutions, including the El Toro Youth Center and the Boccardo Family Living Center in San Martin. Six said South Bay Alliance will mail letters to students as donations allow.
School supplies have consisted of binder paper, two notebooks, two and four-subject folders, pens, pencils, crayons, big pink erasers, school glue, ruler and whatever else ChildSpree can afford for each child with the funds raised.
At a July 18 concert and rib dinner at the Community Center, ChildSpree received almost $4,000 in donations, plus a donation of $4,700 from Las Madres of Morgan Hill. Elizabeth Perrier presented South Bay Alliance with the check. Las Madres raised the funds by holding a silent auction and a garage sale.
Jesse Nazzal, his family and staff at Betsy’s Restaurant have donated huge amounts of time, energy and man-hours to make the events happen. Good portions of the pre-sold rib feed tickets were sold at Betsy’s Restaurant.
Cochrane Road Self Storage underwrote the concert series expenses as well.
The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill last week hosted its annual ChildSpree luncheon. They will donate their lunch receipts and member contributions to ChildSpree, which – so far – total $1,645, according to Rotary President John Tarvin.
“But we expect more to come in later,” Tarvin said.
Pat Steinbrook-Tougas and her family made a sizable donation to help the program continue. The late Ken Tougas started ChildSpree to help local students.
Six says that volunteer shoppers are needed for ChildSpree Day, which is Saturday, Aug. 7, from 7-9 a.m. Ten Rotarians have already signed up to guide children through Mervyn’s, choosing back-to-school gear but invite others to come along and help.
Shopper-helpers can e-mail Six at Gi**@************ll.com or phone 776-2791. The Lions Club will cook a pancake breakfast again this year as they do every year to feed everyone who participates.
To drum up interest and publicity, Six and Tarvin will appear together on KEZR, Mix 106 (106.5), Sunday, Aug. 15, at either 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. to discuss the program.
Anyone wishing to contribute to this effort can send a tax deductible donation to The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill Endowment, P.O. Box 283, Morgan Hill, CA 95038-0283. Just memo the check for ChildSpree.
Donations also can be sent to South Bay Alliance, P.O. Box 1179, Morgan Hill, CA 95038.
Details: www.YourMorganHill.com or 776-2791.
