450 Needy Children Treated to Shopping Spree

It was a tough decision. Should she buy the tan and black mini-backpack or the red plaid one? The former was cheaper, but the latter would match the new skirt she wanted to buy.

Either way, it was a choice that 9-year-old Desiree Moreno relished as she took part in a shopping spree Saturday for 450 children from low-income families at 11 Mervyn’s department stores in Orange County.

The children, selected by social workers, would not be able to afford new clothes without the program, said Jackie Terrell, a volunteer who helped coordinate the event, sponsored by the Salvation Army and Mervyn’s. The children come from families whose annual incomes do not exceed $5,000.

Many of the children in large families often wear hand-me-downs, said Lazara Delgado, a social worker from Salvation Army Family Services in Anaheim.

The children were each given $75 gift certificates to purchase clothes and shoes. They were paired with volunteers who helped them select and tally purchases.

“We’re trying to get as much for the money as we can, as well as trying to get everything she needs,” said Pat Forsman, 36, a volunteer from Orange. She helped Yanilath Carpio, 7, select shorts, pants and dresses to last her through the year. Yanilath’s special purchase was a red dress with white flowers and a denim top.

It was a dress that drew smiles from Yanilath as she imagined how nice it would look on the first day of school.

“We start them off with a smile, and they feel great,” Terrell said. “Many children can’t go back to school because they don’t have proper clothing.”

The fourth annual back-to-school spree grew out of a 14-year-old program that gives gift certificates to about 100 children to select new clothes during Christmastime. This is the second year that all Orange County Mervyn’s stores have been involved; the Anaheim store has participated for 14 years.

Mervyn’s matches the funds raised through donations by the Salvation Army, gives the children a 10% discount on purchases to offset the sales tax and donates a package of underwear and socks to each child, said Lorraine Nygren, store team leader.

Desiree marveled at the plaid mini-backpack that will go with the red plaid skirt and white T-shirt she intends to wear on the first day of school.

“It’s fun because there’s lots of colors and you can mix and match,” she said. “It’s odd to see what you like and be able to buy it at the store.”