LIVINGSTON, NJ, June 18, 2014 – The National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section (NCJW/Essex) has received a grant of $2000 from The Montclair Foundation in support of the 6th Annual Back 2 School Store.
The NCJW/Essex Back 2 School Store provides an opportunity for economically disadvantaged children in Essex County to “shop” for free for back-to-school essentials in a one-day-only “store” set up just for them in a 4,000 square foot space. With the assistance of NCJW/Essex volunteer personal shoppers, each child is escorted through the department store-like space to select pants, shirts, sneakers, undergarments, a winter jacket, and a backpack in their favorite colors and styles. Each child also receives school supplies – including binders, notebooks, pencils, a calculator, and a dictionary – as well as a small supply of personal care items. All of the merchandise is brand new, purchased or donated by NCJW/Essex and its sponsoring partners.
Since its inception five years ago, the Back 2 School Store has served more than 2300 children and has utilized the services of over 2000 volunteers who planned, organized and worked at the one-day event. This year’s Back 2 School Store is scheduled for Sunday, August 3, 2014, where once again NCJW/Essex plans on fulfilling the wishes of more than 600 Essex County economically disadvantaged children, giving them the needed self-esteem to insure a successful beginning to a new school year.
“We are so grateful to The Montclair Foundation for their key role in supporting our work and helping our 6th Annual Back 2 School Store come to fruition,” said Deborah Legow Schatz, President of NCJW/Essex. “Their generosity goes a long way toward ensuring that hundreds of children have the clothes and supplies they need to start the school year off right.