With the first day of school in the Woodland Joint Unified School District set for Wednesday, 80 children from low-income families were able to purchase much-needed back-to-school clothing during the Salvation Army’s annual shopping spree at JCPenny.
In addition to the essential shopping trip in the parking lot of the store at 1260 E. Gibson Road on Saturday morning, participating families also received a vision test in the Woodland Host Lions Vision Van, a pair of shoes provided by either Soroptimist International of Woodland or the Police Activities League of the Woodland Police Department, and a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast prepared and served by the Kiwanis Club of Woodland or the Reveille Lions Club, respectively.
Edward Jones provided a backpack full of supplies.
“I’m so excited to be here,” said Stephanie Lopez Vassar, Salvation Army field representative in Yolo County. “The event gets bigger every year. Many families are overwhelmed by the rising prices of everything, including food, so it’s a huge relief for us to be able to work with all these other great local organizations to provide parents and their children with new school clothes, shoes and a backpack of school supplies.”
“We cannot do it alone. No one organization can do it alone because we are all here to provide the help we want to provide.”
Vasser mentioned that preparations began at 7 a.m. and that there was a cleanup period following the event from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., ending at 11:30 a.m.
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Necessary items purchased included pants, t-shirts, underwear, belts and anything else that added to the allotted $125 per child. Funding for the event came from $3,500 from The Woodland Kiwanis, $500 more than last year, as well as Salvation Army bell ringing proceeds from the 2023 Salvation Army Kettle Campaign.
During the event, registration began at 8 a.m., and volunteers began escorting the children through the store in shifts starting at 9 a.m. to avoid overloading the store. After the first shift, the second shift came while the first shift members went to the Lions Club Vision Van for a screening.
After having few volunteer shoppers last year, this year’s increase in volunteers is due to help from members of other local organizations, such as the Sunrise Rotary Club, Holy Rosary Chapel, Life Pointe Church and Life Point East Church.
“I’m impressed with everyone who has come,” she said. “In past years we haven’t had many volunteers, but this year we have so many. More and more people are learning about the difference our programs make and hopefully encouraging them to help us with The Salvation Army’s bell ringing season. If anyone would like to help us, they can also contact our local office.”
If families are interested in participating next year, Vasser urges them to register for next year’s event by calling or visiting a local Salvation Army office by April 2025.
Families who participated in the previous year’s events are not qualified.
“I think this event is great today,” said Steve Barzo, president of the Kiwanis Club of Woodland. “I know we’re donating $125 this year, but we’re already considering increasing that amount to at least $150 next year due to inflation.”
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