'Back To School Shop' To Help More Than 400 Stamford Students Prepare For New School Year

STAMFORD, CT — Back to School Shop Inc. will hold its 12th annual event on Sunday, July 26, providing more than 400 elementary school students from low-income families in Stamford with new clothing and school supplies at no cost.

The one-day pop-up shop will be set up to resemble a department store. The participating children were identified by social workers in Stamford Public Schools.

With the assistance of volunteer personal shoppers, each child will select a winter coat, sneakers, two shirts, pants, socks, underwear, gloves, a sweatshirt and a handmade hat crafted by community knitters.

Children will also receive a new backpack, school supplies, a grade-appropriate book, a lunch box and a reusable water bottle. All items are new and provided free of charge.

"For many families, the cost of back-to-school clothing and supplies can be overwhelming," said Back to School Shop Co-Founder Meryl Japha in a news release. "We are deeply grateful to the many donors and volunteers whose involvement and commitment continue to ensure that hundreds of local children can begin the school year with the confidence, dignity, and enthusiasm that come with having brand-new clothes and school supplies."

Co-founder Jane Levene expressed, "Over the last 12 years, Back to School Shop has worked to support the Stamford Public School system by providing school clothing and supplies to elementary children of low-income families so that they are prepared for the start of school like their more fortunate peers. We can only do this because the elementary school social workers work in partnership with us and identify the children most in need of our program, and we are grateful to them for their support."

"Our students can't wait to show up for the beginning of the school year with their new clothes and supplies from Back to School Shop! They are so proud of the way they look and how prepared they are with their new school items! I look forward to it every year!" added Nancy Stanton, school social worker at Hart Magnet School.

Author Akeem Roberts will return to this year's event to provide and sign copies of his new book, "Class Pet Ghost Detective #2: Milkshake the Disappearing Milk Snake," for each participating child. He also participated in last year's event.

While the children are shopping, parents and caregivers will be able to visit the on-site Japha Family Resource Center to receive information about available resources and meet with representatives from 13 participating community service organizations, including Building One Community, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, City of Stamford Office of Community Engagement, Community Health Centers and Schoke Jewish Family Service, which will operate a mobile food pantry for participating families.

More than 200 community volunteers will staff the event as personal shoppers, shoe fitters, section managers, administrators and in other roles.

For more information about Back to School Shop, click here.