Kiwanis Club of Tellico Village helped 59 local students get ready for the new school year.
The club sponsored its 17th annual back-to-school clothing event Thursday at Walmart in Lenoir City in collaboration with the Family Resource Centers of Lenoir City and Loudon County schools.
The students received $115 in gift certificates to purchase clothing with their families.
“It’s just a great event,” Jerry Wrubel, who co-chaired the event with wife Laura, said. “… A couple of years ago, we were in the Walmart checkout center over by the garden center, and this father was speaking to his son at the end of the event. This little boy about thigh-height — he was probably six or seven — comes over and gives me the biggest hug and says ‘thank you.’ I’m going ‘wow.’ It’s really heartening to see the smiles on their faces, the outcome.
“You know for anybody the first day of school is enough of its trials and tribulations, but this really helps them,” he added. “We’re excited about it.”
Corporate sponsor Malibu Boats and a private donor allowed the club to increase allocations for students and add nine more to the program.
George Arwood, club president, said the program is one of the highlights in the fall. He said the international motto of the organization is “Kids need Kiwanis.”
“It really is a nice thing,” Arwood said. “It really warms your heart to see these kids. We know there are areas here that need extra help, and so we’re glad to do it.”
Cindy Purdy, director of the Family Resource Center at Loudon County Schools, said 30 students from nine county schools were helped by the program. She said 80% were being raised by grandparents on fixed incomes who can’t afford extra items.
“Kids go into school and they need to feel confident and proud of who they are and getting started, and what is better to do that than having new clothes?” Purdy said. “You know how new clothes make you feel? Elated and glad? That’s what we want kids walking into school feeling like, ready to come back.
“Then, as far as parents go, course it’s an expense saving for them,” she added. “Some of them can’t afford new back-to-school clothes. Today, we gave them $115 a piece from Kiwanis and Malibu, and they went out of here with a bag full of stuff. I feel confident about how much that helped their families, too.”
Susan Fox, director of the Family Resource Center at Lenoir City Schools, said the program helps create face-to-face relationships so center employees can discover needs in the home.
Fox said the FRC had an increase in referrals at the end of the last school year and suspects the trend to continue.
“We’re just grateful for over the years that the Kiwanis Club has continued to partner with Lenoir City Schools,” Fox said. “They are an amazing group, and there is a never-ending generosity to them. They look for new and different ways to support our families.”
Marina Perez was looking for a variety of clothing and supplies for her three daughters. She said each child can need $200 for shoes, shirts and other necessities. School supplies sometimes cost the family more than $250.
“Everything is getting expensive, and it’s really hard sometimes to buy stuff, especially with the kids going back to school,” Perez said. “They are growing up. They can’t use the same clothes we used last year.”
Amanda Forshee and her two children were looking for pants and shirts. She said fashion trends and the ever-changing height of her children can make finding clothing difficult.
She said the program takes a weight off the family by helping get school clothes and supplies they can’t afford.
“We love the program,” Forshee said. “We’re so glad we get to be a part of it.”
Shelly Strickland, human resources manager for Malibu Boats, said making sure students have what they need for a successful school year is the reason to be involved.
Strickland said Malibu partners with Kiwanis on other projects in the schools, including an emphasis at Christmas.
“It’s exciting to see them be excited to start school, and it warms the heart,” she said. “It’s nice to know that we can help in the community and help these families with their needs that they have.”
Wrubel said the most memorable part of the program is seeing smiles and excitement. While he claims to be too old to remember the start of school, he said he does know there is uncertainty about clothing.
“Children are our No. 1, that’s what we do,” Wrubel said. “It’s just one piece of a large puzzle, and we continue to do that year to year. It’s our reason for being.”
For those interested in learning more or joining Kiwanis, visit online at www.k15626.site.kiwanis.org.
