TEMECULA: Shopping spree benefits low-income families

Salvation Army, Mervyn's team up for annual event to outfit kids

By JENNIFER KABBANY - For The Californian | Saturday, July 19, 2008 5:57 PM PDT ∞

Irene Curiel of Lake Elsinore signs in for her children, Miguel, 15, Angelina, 11, and Selina, 6, at the start of the annual ChildSpree at the Mervyn's store in Temecula. Mervyn's and the Murrieta Salvation Army teamed up to provide needy children with $125 worth of clothing and shoes. More than 200 volunteers helped about 175 children pick out the clothing. (Photo by Steve Thornton - staff photographer)

A new T-shirt brings out a smile from 6-year-old Bryan Soy of Murrieta on Saturday during the ChildSpree program. Esther Patron, a volunteer from Pechanga, led Soy around and helped him pick out clothes. (Photo by Steve Thornton - staff photographer)

The latest fashions were available to local kids receiving clothes from the ChildSpree program Saturday. (Photo by Steve Thornton - staff photographer)

David Sorenson, a volunteer from Milgard Windows, helps 10-year-old Jimmie Whitton of Sun City find shoes Saturday during the ChildSpree program. (Photo by Steve Thornton - staff photographer)

As a single father raising two disabled daughters, Larry Waterman said it's really hard to make ends meet, and getting even harder as the economy worsens.

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So to be able to take his daughters on a clothing shopping spree helps a great deal in keeping the family within its tight budget, said the 57-year-old Lake Elsinore resident.

The Waterman children were two of nearly 200 Southwest County children and teenagers who were given a $125 gift card to Mervyn's on Saturday as part of an annual charity event hosted by the clothing store and the Salvation Army.

Kneeling in front of his 8-year-old daughter Hannah, who was standing in front of her wheelchair, Waterman shimmied a brightly colored dress down her frame.

She smiled.

"This could be in a school picture," she said. "I like it. It's pretty."

In its 12th year, the annual summer shopping spree helps local low-income families get their children ready for the upcoming school year, said LeAnn Trimmer, a major with the Salvation Army who was overseeing Saturday's event.

Waterman said it does more than just help out financially.

"It helps the kids feel like other kids," he said. "They are not wearing hand-me-downs, old clothes, clothes with stains. It helps their self image. I think it improves their school work."

Trimmer said many of the youths at the event have never shopped for new clothes before.

"These are families who have enough to pay the rent, buy some food and hopefully keep their utilities on," she said. "They don't have money for extras, and clothes are extras."

Trimmer said local school district officials helped the Salvation Army determine which families were needy enough to qualify. School nurses, often intimate with family particulars, also pitched in with suggestions, she said.

At the event, parents were asked to wait outside the store while the children shopped with volunteer chaperones. Trimmer said that is done to ensure the effort remains "all about the children," and that items obtained directly benefit each child.

Many of the children appeared very excited as they went through the store, pointing and smiling and leading around their chaperones.

"What color do you like?" Anika Garza's chaperone asked the 8-year-old Murrieta resident as the two stood in front of a rack of T-shirts.

"I like black," came the reply.

"Black?"

"Really, I'm not kidding," Anika insisted playfully.

For Natalie Collins, a 12-year-old Menifee resident, the shopping was easy.

That's because she had come to the store a day before to scope items out, she said.

"I was really excited," Natalie said. "Good thing nobody got what I had wanted."

Natalie's chaperone, Joan Goemmel, said she enjoyed volunteering so much at last year's shopping spree that she was pleased to do so again.

"It's really fun to help these young ladies pick out clothes," said the 73-year-old Murrieta resident.

Trimmer said volunteers find the experience gratifying.

"It's an exciting experience for the people we serve, and an exciting experience for all the people who help us all the time," she said.

As children and volunteers exited the store there were smiles all around.

"The kids are carrying bags twice as big as they are, and they aren't letting go for all the world," said Pat Tripp, a Salvation Army volunteer who was directing traffic just outside the store's entrance.

As the children reunited with their families, there were lots of "oohs" and "aaahs" as the bounty was revealed, excited scenes similar to Christmas morning.

Standing outside Mervyn's, the Romano family of Murrieta said they were particularly thankful for the event. Angelique and Joe Romano's four boys, Larry, 16, Marc, 13, Joey, 8, and Vinny, 6, all participated.

"Times are tough," Joe Romano said. "Programs like this, that give you a jump start and keep you on track, are very helpful. We are grateful for it."