St. Paul's Project Fresh Clothes Collects Items For Students Going Back To School
Stevens Point Journal - Stevens Point, Wis. 
Journal staff Nicole Stritter - 8/5/2010

Ben Franklin Junior High School will be transformed into a one-stop shop for back-to-school shopping later this month.

There will be backpacks full of free school supplies for low-income families, and there will be an area where children can select a few free items of gently used clothing for a new wardrobe.

For the fifth year, St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Stevens Point is sponsoring Project Fresh Clothes, which ensures that children in Portage County from low-income families go back to school prepared for success. It is run in conjunction with United Way of Portage County's Project Fresh Start, which provides school supplies to children in Portage County who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Families eligible for Project Fresh Start automatically qualify for Project Fresh Clothes. This year, more than 2,637 students are eligible.

"We like it to be kind of like a department store -- very appealing and friendly to the kids," said Sue Shulfer, church member and project volunteer.

Last year, the church collected about 10,000 pieces of clothing, which were given to 1,000 kids. The same number of kids is expected to attend the event this year, but Shulfer, 51, said donations are down.

She said about 50 volunteers are coordinating Project Fresh Clothes, because they know children in the community need clothes, shoes, boots and coats for school. Some children from lower-income families have clothes that don't fit or have holes in them. This year's goal is to provide six new articles of clothing for every kindergarten to 12th-grade student who comes to Project Fresh Start. That means the church needs to collect 6,000 donated items. Shulfer was unsure exactly how many items have been collected so far.

In order to meet its goal, the church still needs donations. In the next few weeks, project volunteers urge community members to clean out their children's closets to find outgrown clothes, shoes, boots or coats. The group needs clothing for all ages, but especially clothing and shoes for smaller children.

"When you can put a sparkle in the children's eyes and smile on their faces because you know they are getting things to be successful at school ... that's what makes it all worthwhile," Shulfer said.

Church member Elizabeth Hayden, 18, of Custer, is in charge of the girls clothing section and currently is sorting donations.

"It just warms your heart because you know you're doing something to help people who can't afford it," she said.

DO YOU QUALIFY?

If you are registered for Project Fresh Start, you automatically qualify for Project Fresh Clothes. Visit www.unitedwaypoco.org for more information on eligibility or call 715-341-6740.

Project Fresh Start and Project Fresh Clothes distribution will be Aug. 21 at Ben Franklin Junior High School.