High School students shop for youngsters

About 30 Norwalk High School students in Huron County traveled to Midway Mall in Elyria on Dec. 11 to shop for 20 youngsters for the Mary Lee Tucker Clothea-Child program.

The students walked the halls of the JC Penney, 4500 Midway Mall, with their assigned boys and girls as parents waited for shoppers to help find items on the children’s shopping list.

The youngsters had bright faces as they searched for a new pair of pants, shirts, socks, shoes and coats.

Norwalk students shared they were happy to participate in the shopping experience.

Makayla Howk, 16, shopped for

Chyanne Allen, 4, of Avon.

Makayla, a 10-grader, said she also volunteers in a similar program through When Pigs Fly, which is in Norwalk.

This was Makayla’s first year shopping with classmates of her high school’s Key Club and said it was a lot of fun they could do it together.

“Seeing the joy on (a child’s) face while they get to pick out their outfit is great,” she said.

Lorissa Lowrimore, of Kipton, said this was the first time her children Chayanne Taylor, 6, Kaden Taylor, 4, participated.

Lowrimore said she was impressed an entire class helped with shopping.

“I think it’s really helpful because (shopping through the program) takes the stress off of shopping while you have someone else helping you,” she said.

Lowrimore said having extra financial assistance for new clothing items is nice because she said her children quickly grow out of their clothes.

Kim Majoy, teacher of Family Consumer Science at Norwalk High, and organizer of the school service, said she has worked several years with high school students for the Clothe-a-Child program.

However, Majoy said she began the class-wide opportunity while at Vermilion High School where she previously taught for 12 years out of her 23-year teaching career.

The shopping opportunity at Norwalk High is through its Key Club and a branch of Kiwanis Club.

Majoy said she hopes the students will want to pursue

Kiwanis later in life.

The Clothe-a-Child opportunity through the Key Club always is a favorite, with many returning each year, she said.

The opportunity is not only a community service, but a math challenge for high school students, as well, to make sure they grab the right amount of items under the $150 shopping limit.

“The kids are lovely,” Majoy said. ”The kids they shop for are great. It’s the best experience, it really is.”

She said this is a great opportunity for high school students to get involved in services at a young age, have them understand that families come from different situations and that it’s good to give.

“(It’s) the benefit of giving to the community,” Majoy said. “They need to get that the need is out there.

“I just want them to be open-minded and not judging people because everyone presents themselves differently, but you don’t know their lives. Reserve judgment and enjoy the experience.”

How you can help

The Morning Journal’s Mary Lee Tucker Clothea-Child fund provides new clothes and shoes to area children in need.

Readers can make monetary donations in person at The Morning Journal, or online at www.morningjournal.com/clotheachild. Checks or money orders can be made out to The Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a Child Program and mailed to: The Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child Program, c/o The Morning Journal, 2500 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44053. Please indicate how you would like your name to appear in our published donor lists.