The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Couple delighted in teaming together
After four years of helping children pick out new clothes for Clothe-A-Child, Sue and Ted Van de Motter are still going strong.
In talking about the News-Herald charity that provides Lake and Geauga county children in need with news clothing and shoes, the couple showed no signs of slowing, repeatedly expressing how wonderful the young ones are and treating their little shopper as if he were their own.
The couple, who lives in Willoughby Hills, first found out about Clothe-A-Child after reading about it in the News-Herald. On Nov. 19, they came together again to meet a participant of the program and to help him shop for new clothes at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. Sue was in charge of knowing sizes and locating potential items, and Ted pushed the cart and balanced the budget.
“I always ask (the children)... ‘what do you need most?’” Sue said. “They normally say ‘I need a coat’. And gloves and scarves.”
Sue works as a monitor at Orange Schools in Pepper Pike so she knows what a lot of junior high school kids like to wear. While picking out new shoes, she offered help and support to make sure the boy found something — in his size — that he really liked.
Such children that participate in the program are given a budgeted amount between $200 and $230, choosing everything from school uniform items to coats to brand new boots.
After buying a pair of athletic shoes and winter boots at Payless Shoe Source, the couple walked to JC Penney with their little friend to pick out more clothes.
Sue told her husband, “He doesn’t know what he wants yet.”
Ted answered, “Oh we’re going to find out, right?”
True to their word, Sue
and Ted helped the boy find shirts for school, pants, pajamas and socks. Although they were helpful in finding items, they reiterated many times that they didn’t want him to pick out anything he didn’t like just because they suggested it.
“Usually the kids are a little shy when we start off,” Ted said, “but by the end of the thing, they’re fine.”
Ted playfully teased his young friend, asking a store mannequin where the coats were and jokingly picking out a pink, knit sweater. Sue commented that he does it all the time.
In the store, Sue patiently sifted through dozens of items to look for the right fit and feel, while checking in with Ted to see where they were at on the budget. There was some leeway for going over the budget, but to go too far would mean having to take items back and likely disappointing the child. So careful consideration was important.
Regardless, they were able to successfully find a warm winter hat and coat.
While going from store to store, Ted recalled a story about a previous boy they shopped with who wanted a nice, new coat.
“So he picked out a coat, and he said to me ‘you know, I can’t wait to go to school tomorrow and show my friends my new coat’,” Ted said. “Now, that really gets me.”
He also said that it was something that kept him coming back to Clothe-AChild, adding “It makes you feel good, too.”
Sue and Ted are no strangers to volunteering, as they are involved at other places, one of which is the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. Ted also volunteers at the Mount St. Joseph Rehab Center in Euclid.
“We do a lot of volunteering,” Sue said. “We like it. Especially the kids... They’re fun. It makes your heart happy.”
When talking about Clothe-A-Child, Sue added, “We love it. I mean, we’d never give it up.”