Back-to-school help

Suzie Harrison

Going back to school for most Laguna families means numerous shopping

excursions for new clothes, supplies and other must-haves for fall.

For local families who do not have that luxury, help is available

at the Women’s Resource Center’s back-to-school party at 5 p.m. Aug.

26 at the Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive.

Now in its second year, the event is in collaboration with Laguna

Relief and Resource Center and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Co-chairs Sande St. John and Marsha Bode said donations are needed

and are asking local companies to help.

“Any little bit we get is a tremendous help,” St. John said. “We

especially need new school supplies, backpacks and clothes and

jackets in all sizes for pre-school- through high-school-aged kids.”

About 70 families benefited from last year’s event.

“We would like every low-income child going to Laguna schools to

have enough stuff to start school,” Bode said. “It can run over $100

per child, and this can help the family’s budget quite a bit.”

Bode said they try to give the recipients what the average child

would have starting the new school year.

Maria Contreras is planning to attend with her three children ages

6, 12 and 13.

“I was here last year; we got all kinds of school supplies, nice

brand new clothes, shoes and backpacks,” Contreras said. “I would buy

these things -- it would affect our budget, but I would sacrifice for

it and wouldn’t get as good of stuff as they get here.”

Elia Ocampo and her son Luis, 14, are volunteers.

“It gets the kids encouraged for school and helps the budget for

the working families in this town. It makes a difference.”

The Chamber of Commerce is facilitating this year by contacting

local businesses, being a drop-off location and picking up items if

needed.

The Neighborhood Congregational Church has been a great support,

St. John said, by donating clothes. Also, the Woman’s Aid Society

donated $2,000, which will go directly to benefit the children.

St. John said she appreciated that last year June Neptune, the

Beach House and Brown Bag donated money and Billabong and Saffron

donated boxes of clothes.

“We’re really pleading, making phone calls, visiting stores and

begging for new clothes and supplies,” St. John said. “We need

backpacks and jackets, which are the most expensive items.”

St. John said the response from the families has been tremendous.

“They’re so grateful and thankful,” St. John said. “They don’t

know where they would get the money to buy clothes or school

supplies.”

“In most of these families both the mother and father are

working,” St. John said. “I’m asking the business community to

support the families that work in Laguna.”

Gabrielle Jones is a single parent with serious health problems.

Her daughter Kyla Nickerson, 7, is her life, she says.

“We didn’t come last year because it was a pride issue,” Jones

said. “Our goal is to find a safe place to live.”

Jones said she will be getting her daughter supplies at the

back-to-school party this year.

“I could no more spend $20 on tennis shoes than I could cut off a

limb,” Jones said. “I don’t think people understand the difference

something that small makes. Kayla is thrilled anybody does anything

for her. Her expectations aren’t huge.”

The Woman’s Club will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day of the

event to drop off donations. For information, call Sande St. John at

(949) 499-9429 or (949) 633-9429 or Marsha Bode at (949) 499-5518.