New year, new threads

Suzie Harrison

Going back to school is an exciting time for most students. Many may

not be particularly happy that summer is over, but they don’t mind

buying new clothes and accessories to impress their friends.

But some students don’t have the privilege of getting decked out

in the latest, must-have fashions. Instead they have to worry about

having clothes to wear, period. It’s a problem, even in affluent

Laguna Beach.

This year the Woman’s Resource Center in collaboration with the

St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Catherine Church is doing

something to quell this problem by having a back-to-school party at 5

p.m. Thursday at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club.

“We’re going to make sure every kid in Laguna Beach is going back

to school with some new things,” Organizer Sande St. John said.

“We’re making sure every kid will have a new backpack, shoes,

sweatshirt and supplies.”

She said the community has been extremely generous, especially

longtime local artist Nick Hernandez.

“This is something that touched my heart,” Hernandez said. “When I

was a little kid I didn’t have lunch money, I had holes in my shoes

and pants and didn’t have things I needed. I ditched school because I

was embarrassed.”

Hernandez talked to Billabong, and the company is donating

hundreds of pieces of clothing and backpacks.

“It’s really painful. It’s really something that’s a driving force

in my life to this day,” Hernandez said. “Anything that will increase

their self-esteem is a really important part of education, and

anything we can do to get them to feel proud of themselves on any

level is of major importance ... This is me a long time ago.”

When St. John handed out fliers at local restaurants to let

parents know about the event, she was pleasantly surprised. “June

Neptune at Tivoli Too, immediately when she heard, said I’ll give

$500 and so did Matt Pike at the Beach House,” St. John said. “I’m

just so thrilled we’re able to do this because the people in Laguna

are so caring, loving and giving.”

St. John said that they have wanted to do this for a long time.

“We do a Christmas party every year, and we’ve wanted to do a

back-to-school thing,” St. John said. “We probably have about 100

low-income families that have kids in our school system and the

parents all have jobs -- in every case the men and women work.”

Some of the families are single-parent households with three and

four children.

“I’m a single mom with four kids. It’s good those guys come to

help get [families] ready for school,” Yolanda Vasquez said. “Sande

has helped me a lot, she has given me food and clothes. My kids will

be ready for school, ready for school to start.”

Maria Contreras has two daughters and one son who go to school

here.

“They need everything -- clothes and shoes for school,” Contreras

said. “It will help get my kids ready for school, it’s expensive.”

St. John said she runs into people with a lot of pride who are

afraid of asking for help.

“You see them and your heart starts beating faster, a mother with

five kids and their husband is leaving, how do they pay the rent?”

St. John said. “They can’t.”

When Hernandez told his neighbor Maureen Tallman, owner of the

Brown Bag Sandwich Co., she donated $500, and she will donate food

for the event as well.

“What blows me away is that everyone who has donated is thanking

me like crazy,” Hernandez said. “I’m like no ‘thank you’ ... it’s a

mutual admiration. You get a great deal of joy participating.”

His son -- also named Nick Hernandez -- is in the local band

Common Sense and is getting donations from the band and its contacts

including the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Hernandez and St. John are also trying to get businesses to donate

items -- that can be auctioned, with the proceeds going to help the

families.

Hernandez is also working with artists to get pieces to donate.

Some other businesses that have jumped in already include Aliso Creek

Inn, which will contribute golfing for four.

St. John said that people can call her at (949) 499-9429 if they

have questions or need to have items picked up. Otherwise people can

drop off donations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Woman’s Club at

286 St. Ann’s Drive the day of the event.

“With the money we’ll probably end up getting vouchers for them to

go buy clothes,” St. John said. “The Woman’s Resource Center and St.

Vincent de Paul will make sure and pay the rest -- whatever it is.”