Annual 'Back To School Shop' Set For Stamford On July 29

From Back To School Shop: Remember the excitement of shopping for back to school clothing and supplies? Well, imagine the reactions of 275 economically disadvantaged elementary school students who get to select their own brand new school items in a one day pop-up “department store” where everything is free!

“The funds have been raised, the clothing and school supplies purchased, the volunteers recruited, and now we just can’t wait to see the smiles on the children’s faces when they walk into the shop!” remarked Meryl Japha, one of Back to School Shop Inc.’s co-founders. “That’s always the best part!”

The Back To School Shop, a community event organized to provide new school clothes and supplies to economically disadvantaged elementary school children, will have its 4th annual event on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at Davenport Ridge Elementary School in Stamford. Children from kindergarten through fifth grade, who have been identified by elementary school social workers in the Stamford Public School System, will be able to select their own brand new items in a department store environment created just for them. Over 50% of Stamford students are considered economically disadvantaged and many return to school each year without basic clothing and school supplies. The mission of Back to School Shop, Inc. is to help build the confidence and enthusiasm these children need to have a successful start to the school year, by providing new school clothes and supplies.

Volunteers purchase all of the clothing, backpacks and school supplies with funds raised from individuals, foundations and other organizations. “We always purchase lots of extras, so every child will have a wide selection of items” says Jane Levene, Back to School Shop's other co-founder. "Its important to give these kids the same experience they would get if they walked into a regular department store. And allowing them to choose their own items helps give them the confidence they need to feel good about going back to school."

The Back to School Shop event runs from 10:00am until 3:30pm in the Davenport Ridge Elementary School gymnasium, which is transformed into a department store setting for the event. With the assistance of volunteer “personal shoppers,” each child is escorted throughout the store to select an entire new outfit including a shirt, pants, sneakers, socks, underwear, winter jacket, hat and gloves. In addition to the clothing, children are also given a new backpack, which they fill with school supplies, and books. All of the items chosen by the children are provided at no charge.

While the children are shopping, their parents and caregivers can visit the on-site Japha Family Resource Center where they can pick up information about available resources and meet with representatives of 20 participating community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, Domus, Stamford Department of Human Services, Ferguson Library, Building One Community, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Kids in Crisis, and United Way.

Back to School Shop, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization founded by Stamford residents, Japha and Levene, who wanted to ensure that every child in Stamford experienced the excitement of getting ready to go back to school. Initially, Back to School Shop operated under the auspices of United Jewish Federation, as it was getting established. As of September 1, 2017, Back to School Shop, Inc. began operating independently as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Since its inaugural event in 2015, Back to School Shop has outfitted nearly 600 local children with the clothing and supplies they need to go back to school.

The Back to School Shop event will be staffed with over 200 community volunteers who will act as personal shoppers, shoe fitters, section managers, translators, administrators and many other roles to help make the experience a special day for the children.

Special thanks go to: Platinum Star Sponsors Ellen Clarke and Joseph Garcia, Audrey Gaelen, Meryl and Ron Japha, Lapine Charitable Trust, Jason Mager, and Westy Self Storage Stamford; and Gold Star Sponsors Charlesanna and Bill Ecker, Louis J. Kuriansky Foundation, Nan and Paul Gordon, Lone Pine Foundation/Kirsten Walsh and Media Source, Inc./Cathy and Steve Zales.

For more information about the Back to School Shop, please visit www.backtoschoolshop.org

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