Back to School Shop—Ninth Annual Event

Stamford, CT, July 27, 2023—Remember the excitement of shopping for back to school supplies? Well, imagine the reactions of over 400 children from low-income families who get to select their own brand new school items in a one day pop-up shop where everything is free! “The funds have been raised, the clothing and school supplies purchased, the volunteers recruited and trained, 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, Back to School Shop Inc.’s co-founder.

Back to School Shop, a community event organized to provide new school clothes and supplies to children in need, will hold its 9th annual event on Sunday, July 30, 2023 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.

“The Back to School Shop plays an important role in our community by ensuring students start the school year with new clothes, new backpacks, and basic school supplies,” said Dr. Tamu Lucero, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools. “We are grateful to the many Back to School Shop volunteers and donors who have created this incredible resource for Stamford Public Schools students and families.”

Volunteers purchase all the clothing, backpacks and school supplies with funds raised from individuals, foundations and other organizations. “We always purchase lots of extras, so even the last child through the shop will have a wide selection of items” said Jane Levene, Back to School Shop's co-founder. “We want these kids to have the same experience here that they would have if they were shopping in a department store.”

The Back to School Shop event runs from 9:00am 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 through the store to select a winter coat, sneakers, two shirts, pants, socks, underwear, gloves, and hand-made hats, generously crafted by community knitters and crocheters for the participating children. In addition to the clothing, children are also given a new backpack, which they fill with school supplies, and books. New this year, children will also receive lunch boxes and reusable water bottles. All the items chosen by the children are brand new and provided at no charge to them.

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 10 participating community service organizations, including Schoke Jewish Family Service's Mobile Food Pantry, Kids in Crisis, Children’s Learning Center, City of Stamford Office of Community Engagement, and Connecticut Legal Services.

Back to School Shop, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization founded by long-time 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. The mission of Back to School Shop, Inc. is to provide elementary school children from low-income families in our community with brand new clothing and school supplies, to help build the confidence and enthusiasm they need for a successful start to the school year.
Special thanks go to: Diamond Star Sponsors Meryl and Ron Japha, and Toby Wintrub Charitable Foundation; Platinum Star Sponsor Audrey Gaelen; and Gold Star Sponsors Charlesanna and Bill Ecker, First Student,Inc., Nan and Paul Gordon, and Monica Smith/Michael Schlessinger

The Back to School Shop event will be staffed with 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.

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