1999 Back-To-School-Clothes-For-Kids at Georgianna Peck School in Ansonia

More than 130 children at Georgianna Peck School in Ansonia left the building smiling on August 26 after picking up their lockers full of new clothes for the start of the new academic year. The school was the site for the Corporate Volunteer Council's (CVC) 1999 Back-To-School-Clothes-For-Kids project. The goal of the project is to provide new clothes to underprivileged children at the start of the school year. Nationally, statistics show that many children in need miss the first few days of school simply because they do not have new clothes to wear. The hope of the CVC is that by providing children with new clothes and a backpack filled with school supplies, they will feel encouraged to do their best while raising their self-esteem.

Once a CVC member company adopts a child, they are given a profile sheet (first name only) which includes sizes, favorite colors, sports, teams, and TV characters for each child. Employees from all the companies that participated gathered at the school gym to personally meet their "adopted" child and present their special box of clothes. Each personally wrapped box included two complete outfits, (skirt, blouse, shirt and pants, dresses) underwear, socks, a winter coat, sneakers and a backpack filled with school supplies. 

The Back-To-School-Clothes-For-Kids project is a favorite of Valley United Way's Corporate Volunteer Council. In just four years, the CVC has made a difference in the lives of more than 400 children in the Valley. But most importantly, the CVC showed these children that they care about them, want them to feel special, and encourage them to do their best.

The following groups made this year's program a success:

Volunteer Action Center

Valley United Way