ESCONDIDO: Kids think back-to-school on free shopping spree

By RENEE HAINES - For the North County Times | Saturday, July 19, 2008 5:57 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Mervyns department stores throughout Southern California opened their doors early Saturday to let hundreds of children, including 46 Escondido youngsters, go on a free back-to-school shopping spree.

"They're all smiles," said Chris Endris, a site supervisor for the Escondido-based Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

"We've had moms with tears in their eyes who said they didn't know if they were going to have the money for school clothes," Endris said. "It's a great program."

Two Boys & Girls Club facilities in Escondido were among dozens of organizations individually selected by each Southern California Mervyns store to participate in the retail chain's annual ChildSpree program.

The Mervyns in Escondido hosted 21 children, and a Mervyns on Carmel Mountain Road in San Diego hosted 25 children, Endris said.

Each of the first- through eighth-graders was given a $100 shopping certificate, along with a backpack full of school supplies donated by store employees and community volunteers.

At the Mervyns in Escondido, Karina, 13, said vested shirts and ballet-style flats are in style this year. Debora, 10, vouched for skinny jeans and Vans shoes.

Jason, 10, recommended shirts sporting a dragon motif. Marcus, 9, recommended Converse sneakers.

"I learned that camouflage is out," Robert Costantino, owner of Balloon Guru in Escondido, said after joining other volunteers to help children select clothes, shoes and accessories.

He also donated balloons and decorations to make for a festive store backroom, where children later met to show off their purchases.

"My girlfriend works for Mervyns, so I saw it as an opportunity to give back to the community," Costantino said. "It's a real feel-good experience, and the kids are great."

Kendyl Raisi, assistant manager at Mervyns in Escondido, said a local Target store supplied gift cards for each backpack, and a nearby Chuck E. Cheese donated the prize for a pizza raffle.

"The children are so excited to come in and choose what they want. They're going to feel good about going back to school," Raisi said. "They'll be ready to learn, and that's so important."

Raisi is a long-time fan of Boys & Girls Clubs.

"I think they do great outreach," she said. "Their after-school programs are wonderful."

Danny Sherlock, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, praised Mervyns' ChildSpree program, which began at a California store in Torrance in 1992 and spread nationwide within the next two years.

"Some families have precarious financial situations," Sherlock said.

"It's really beneficial to the families," he said. "It's great for the self-esteem of the children themselves when they go back to school in new clothes."