The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Couple volunteers to give hope and help
Volunteering couple helps send Clothe-A-Child shoppers on their way
When Clothe-A-Child volunteer shoppers come to take their young companions shopping for new clothes and new shoes, they need a hand to help get them started.
For the past few years, that hand often has been the Berlins.
Sandy and Don Berlin of Mentor operate the front table for Clothe-A-Child — a News-Herald charity that provides clothes and shoe shopping for children in need — and they have been volunteering for the charity for about six years. Their job at the table is to check shoppers and families in and out, while managing the forms and gift cards necessary for shopping.
“We started out being shoppers, which was good...” Sandy said. “But we’re here (at the table) every Monday night... beginning to the end.”
She added that she also works with Clothe-A-Child coordinator Pam Jenkins by managing paperwork after schedules are set.
She said she heard about the charity about 15 years ago and tried to get involved with a previous coordinator but they could never connect.
“One day I was at the News-Herald to pay my bill and I happened to see the door open and I walked in and talked to (Jenkins). And that’s how it started,” she recalled.
Sandy mentioned one particular woman when talking about why she continues volunteering for Clothe-A-Child.
“This young woman came by and she had a backpack, she said she just got back from classes at Lakeland (Community College),” Sandy said. “And she had a few dollars she wanted to give us, that’s what she could afford, and that was very nice of her. But the biggest thing was she was telling us how her mother had brought her here for Clothe-A-Child a couple times and how much she appreciated it. And she’s doing good now.”
She felt emotional when adding, “And we’ve had other kids do the same thing.”
Don mentioned that he volunteers for the enjoyment of seeing the participating children transform during the experience.
“The enjoyment (of) watching the kids come up here and they’re sad, but after they get their clothes, they’re all smiles and happy and wonderful,” he said.
The couple has grandchildren of their own and one of their grandsons volunteered as a shopper in the past.
“Watching the children and getting the things they need... they’re just happy to have them,” Sandy said.
The couple’s work in the community doesn’t just stop at Clothe-A-Child. With both retired, the Berlins have found other volunteering opportunities. “We just try to find a way to give back,” Sandy said. “I deliver meals, he does other volunteer stuff.”
“I did the food bank today,” Don interjected.
“...That’s right,” Sandy laughed. “So, we keep busy.”
She recalled her own childhood when thinking about reasons she originally reached out to ClotheA-Child.
“I think it was just something I’ve always wanted to do,” Sandy said. “When I was a child, we didn’t have a lot of money. It wasn’t this type of thing, but I remember when I was in second grade, I needed tennis shoes for gym class. And I was ahead of my time because my father brought me home the black and white high-top boys’ shoes. In the ‘50s, you didn’t wear boys’ tennis shoes to school.”
When it came to volunteering, that memory had made her think “I want to give kids a reason to go to school and feel good about themselves,”
Clothe-A-Child shopping takes place from early fall into the holidays, but accepts donations yearround. Donations can be made online at www. news-herald.com/site/ clothe-a-child.html or by sending a check to ClotheA-Child, c/o The NewsHerald, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094.