Donations needed for program

Mary Lee Tucker charity provides winter clothing for area children

For generations, Lorain County families have benefited from clothing their children receive as a part of the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child program.

Being only six years out from its 100th anniversary, the event’s longevity speaks to the consistent need in Lorain County, according to Linda Batozynski, coordinator of Clothe-A-Child program.

“Everybody’s familiar with it; it’s been around so long,” Batozynski said.

The program was organized in 1924 by Lorain Journal (now The Morning Journal)’s

columnist Rhea Sopher Eddy.

During the Great Depression, Eddy saw a need to help feed and clothe the children in the community.

After publishing an article in 1931, 300 children were clothed in time for Christmas.

Since then, the program has flourished and generations of families often depend or look forward to the possibility of receiving a call from the Clothea-Child.

“I have people call me and thank me, or when I call them and tell them they’re gonna shop, some of the mothers cry, saying ‘Oh my God, I really needed this, it’s such a blessing,” Batozynski said. “This is such a depressed area.

“It’s very much needed in this area, and I’ll tell you what, people count on it.”

Every year from September to October, applications for the Clothe-a-Child are accepted at several non profit organizations.

Application numbers

usually range between 400 and 500, but Batozynski said there are some years were she will sift through as many as 600.

Children from ages four to 16 are accepted based solely on their parents’ or guardians’ income and are eligible every three years for a total of three times in a lifetime.

“We don’t pick and choose,” Batozynski said. “If you qualify, you shop.”

Volunteer shoppers from the Lorain Rotary Club, church groups and local school teachers usually remain from the same consistent list every year.

“I stick to pretty much the same groups every year,” Batozynski said. “School teachers come through big time for me.”

Last year, 200 volunteers accompanied qualifying children to help pick out boots, coats, gloves, shoes, clothing for school and undergarments.

Children are able to shop with volunteers through January.

Each child receives a $150 voucher.

Darryl Q. Tucker, president of the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child board, said

what they do is really important for the community.

“That’s why we raise money and seek donations for the program,” Tucker said. “We know there is a need, and we’re happy to help families with brand new clothes and footwear for the children.”

In Batozynski’s 11 years of organizing the program, there have been times where she has personally reached out to members of the community to share the resources provided by Clothe-a-Child.

One year, while standing in a long line at K-Mart during the holidays, Batozynski began speaking with a man in line.

Batozynski said his wife chimed in as to why they were standing in line.

“She says, ‘I have five children and they deserve every bit of what I get them,’” Batozynski said. “‘It’s not much, but they’re very good kids, they’re very good students in school.’

“I thought, ‘...I gotta help.’”

She recommended the family apply for the program and eventually handdelivered the application to the family’s place of residence.