East Haven Rotary Hosts Annual Clothe Our Children Campaign

The Rotary Club of East Haven will be providing clothing, for children in need on Jan. 3.

Approximately 126 deserving children who will be given funds to shop for items of clothing at Kohl’s Department Store in Branford. The children will be able to shop for clothes worth $100 each.

This represents the largest number of participants than during any of the previous again 13 years of the program. Each year Rotarians receive suggested lists of names of children from the elementary schools in the East Haven system.

This year the Rotary has expanded the program to include children from Pre-K through 6th grade. Fund raising events were coordinated by teachers at elementary schools in East Haven, including St. Vincent de Paul and Joseph Melillo Middle School. Chairperson Jeri Ripkin and the East Haven Rotary are very pleased with this unique “kids helping kids” type of fundraising. Although the dollars raised this year are lagging behind previous totals, Ripkin reports that JMMS has raised $500 to date.

In addition to Rotary raised funds, monies for the program are raised through direct donations received from local businesses and residents. It has been in this area that the economy has had the greatest negative effect.

On Jan. 3, the children (recommended by school nurses and social workers) and their parents/guardians will meet Rotarians at Kohl’s Department Store in Branford and are able to shop for items of clothing. The club monitors quite closely that all items purchased are classified as clothing and that the sizes will correspond to the child present. While at Kohl’s Department Store, the purchasers will also receive the benefit of any sales prices that the store may be offering at the time of purchase. The store also generously extends an additional discount to the Rotary, which enables the club to increase the number of children served.

During the past 13 years, the East Haven Rotary “Clothe Our Children” program has provided clothing for almost 800 children, which with the above mentioned discounts, totals upwards of $ 90,000 worth of merchandise.

Anyone wishing to donate to this program, may mail checks payable to the “East Haven Rotary Clothe Our Children” c/o Treasurer Carl Ruggiero, 12 Oak Hill Drive, East Haven, CT 06513.

For further comments or information, please contact:

Rotary “Clothe Our Children” Chairperson Jeri Ripkin: (203) 553-7600

East Haven Rotary: President Stacy Gravino (203) 500-6978