Skid Row Kids Line Up for School Supplies - msnbc.com |
| Skid Row Kids Line Up for School Supplies - msnbc.com Posted: 08 Oct 2010 01:01 AM PDT Families and kids in need got in line as early at 4 a.m. Thursday in front of the Fred Jordan Mission to receive backpacks full of new school supplies, shoes, toiletries and haircuts. Continuing what is billed as the nation's largest "back-to-school" giveaway, the Fred Jordan Mission expected 5,000 of Los Angeles's poorest kids at the mission to receive what are some kids first and only pair of new shoes, as well other essentials like notebooks, pens, backpacks, socks, jeans and hygiene kits. Although Thursday's event is the 22nd annual "back-to-school" giveaway at the mission, it was drastically re-organized this year in hopes to avoid some of last year's pitfalls. The struggling economy was blamed for the crush of people last year, more than 5,500, some of who camped out overnight and started waiting three days before the giveaway. The crowd clogged the streets, creating trash, inhibiting local businesses and blocking deliveries. Prostitutes and drug dealers overtook portable toilets set up at the event. This year, families had to pre-register for the event, receiving a wristband for a two-hour timeslot to go pick up their supplies. The registration was expected to lessen lines and prevent people camping out overnight. Police and volunteers also patrolled, making sure that everything goes smoothly. "We tried to work with the community partners, businesses, police and city officials to see what they would like, how to help them, and at the same time help the poorest members of our society," said event organizer Suzanna Choi in an interview with NBCLA reporter Angie Crouch. Three hundred volunteers will help hand out products, school supplies from companies like Foot Locker, Unilever, In-N-Out Burger, Wal-Mart and Lucky Brand. Paul Mitchell stylists will also provide free haircuts. The mission is welcoming non-registered kids as well. From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., they planned to give out all of the available supplies. Choi says the event is absolutely necessary for the kids living on Skid Row and others in poverty. "The numbers coming to the Mission have skyrocketed," she said. "People are coming for clothing, food and shoes and at the same time, donations have gone down." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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