FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Shopping Spree Aids Preschoolers

Addie Romero sees children come to class in the Santa Ana Unified School District wearing hand-me-downs and shoes with the toes cut out because their families don’t have the money to buy new ones.

So for Romero, a district community worker, a three-hour shopping spree this week at K mart in Fountain Valley to buy new clothes for 25 needy students suited her just fine.

“Some of these children would not be able to wear new clothes otherwise,” Romero said.

Romero said the children enrolled in the federally funded Head Start preschool program come exclusively from poor families for whom new clothing is often a luxury they cannot afford. “We have some families whose incomes are as low as $900 a year,” she said.

Romero had $400 in donations to spend--$150 each from the Fountain Valley Police Officers Assn. and Rotary Club of Fountain Valley and another $100 given by K mart. She spent all but $2.11.

Police Capt. Rod Gillman said officers pitched in to help after they heard that children were coming to school wearing plastic trash bags during the recent rains because they didn’t have raincoats.

Officers also donated new coats, umbrellas and used clothing.

Bob Daniel, Rotary Club president, said: “We think the children of this country are our future. To me, it’s a small price to pay. You get a lot of good feelings doing these things.”

Romero bought black and white sneakers for the boys and trendy-looking slip-ons and dress shoes with bows for the girls, as well as an assortment of floral-print dresses, T-shirts and jeans. And she also bought the children, ages 3 and 4, basic necessities: socks and underwear.

“I tried to be economical,” she said. “I just shopped wisely so I could get as much for them as I could.”

Romero said she couldn’t wait to give the children their spiffy new duds.

“They have the biggest smiles on their faces when they’re given anything,” she said. “They’re so appreciative.”