Kids get to back-to-school shop at program
The boy chose socks and a pair of athletic shoes with the help of a newfound friend who once helped his own children prepare for a new school season.
Clark Musser, a volunteer from Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, recently shopped with first-grader Andres Mondragon Jr. during the Clothes 4 Kids shopping experience at Skyline Urban Ministries, 500 SE 15. Clothes 4 Kids pairs volunteers with youths so they can select from among the variety of new school uniform tops and pants, shoes and under clothing gathered in an upper room at Skyline, which is affiliated with the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference.
Kristen Boggess, the program’s coordinator, said hundreds of metroarea students and their families get to shop as part of the annual program.
She said the program was designed to help families feeling the budgetary pinch caused by the rising cost of school clothes and other items.
Boggess said the average price for the clothing
provided by Clothes 4 Kids is $120 per child. For some families, particularly those with more than one child, this amount is a big hit to their budget.
“We had a family come yesterday that had seven children. It can add up quickly,” she said.
Boggess said the program provided uniforms and shoes for 675 students last year and the 2017 numbers are about the same.
Families visited Skyline in mid-May so that Boggess and volunteers could take their measurements and find out what color uniforms they needed. Boggess said she purchased the clothing items on the program’s large list and she and volunteers set up the Clothes 4 Kids store for the youths’ back-to-school shopping experience.
Students and their parents and guardians returned to Skyline begin- ning July 10 to shop for their new school garments.
Churches fund program
Boggess said Clothes 4 Kids depends on donations and many come from United Methodist churches throughout Oklahoma. She said many of them hold cloth-
ing drives for underwear and socks throughout the year. Also, some congregations send church members to help during the busy time when children return for their clothes.
Clark Musser and his wife, Kay, said this was their first year helping with Clothes 4 Kids.
“We just believe actions ought to follow your money and your heart,” Kay Musser said, explaining why they give their time to the Skyline program. “We have a neighborhood church, but we feel like it’s bigger than just our neighborhood.”
Nichole Norberto, a volunteer from Pied- mont United Methodist, was helping a young boy pick out athletic shoes on a recent weekday. Norberto said she is currently retired and felt that volunteering for Clothes 4 Kids was a worthwhile way to spend her time.
“I love kids and I love being part of something that matters, something that helps these kids,” she said. “And, it’s fund to watch the kids shop.”
Boggess said after all of the families returned for the new clothes, Skyline’s annual Back-To-School Carnival was held. The event included a backpack and school supply distribution, face painting and hot dogs.