metro >> mentsh of the month Helping Needy Children Volunteer works hard to guarantee clothing, supplies for Detroit students. I Stacy Gittleman Contributing Writer M any of Detroit's poorest chil- dren live in unstable family situations where they have little control of their lives. Because of frequent moves and complicated custody arrange- ments, the school they left in June may not be the same school they return to in September. This, compounded with the recent announcement that Detroit may need to shutter 26 of its public schools by 2015, further magnifies those back-to-school jitters for Detroit children and their fami- lies. To offset the financial burden that comes with the first day of school, the National Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section will launch the "Back 2 School Store a one-day exclu- sive boutique. Open for business on Aug. 10, it will help more than 200 children selected by collaborating social agencies like the Detroit Rescue Ministry Mission by giving them a chance to "shop" for a brand new set of clothing, shoes, a coat and a backpack filled with school and personal care supplies. A personal shopper volunteer will assist them through the store while par- ents and guardians will have the oppor- Sharyn Gallatin, co-chair of NCJW's Back 2 School store, sorts through a bag of winter hats for school children. tunity to sit down and talk with a social worker or DTE for energy assistance. Sharyn Gallatin of West Bloomfield had barely unpacked her new house after moving with her husband and two chil- dren from Bergen County, N.J., before she decided to co-chair the project with Beverly Stone, also of West Bloomfield. 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There are purchase orders from cloth- ing vendors and records of pre-selected children who will shop at the store that include details on their clothing measure- ments, right down to the size sneaker they might be fitting into by fall. "For that one hour when they visit this store, these kids will have control," said Gallatin, who stressed that the store is not open to the public. "They can pick out a brand new set of clothing and fill up a new backpack with school supplies. I wanted to work on this project to add brightness to their lives:' Providing 250 children with brand new clothing and school supplies meant that Gallatin and her 100 volunteers had to hit the pavement with some serious fundraising efforts. They joined Art Van Furniture's $1 million online charity chal- lenge, which runs through June 23. Fifty nonprofit organizations are competing to win a $75,000 grand prize or nine other prizes ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars, based on the dollars they raise and the unique visits they receive on their own fundraising website. To donate to the store, go to the NCJW website at https://www.crowdrise.com/ncjwgds-avf. cated to the area just two years ago. She said that after living in the area for just a short time, all the misgivings and the bad image Detroit receives outside the state "vanished:' "I cannot think of a better place to live, or a better organization than NCJW to get involved with:' In the Garden State, Gallatin worked tirelessly on many committees for the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. She and her husband, Alan, were bestowed with its community service award for their philanthropy. "The Federation in New Jersey touched our lives because they helped us in cop- ing with our son, who has special needs," Gallatin said. "It was important to me to count my blessings and give back to the community, no matter in which commu- nity I reside:' After a few months of volunteering for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, she was approached by members of NCJW who "enthusiastically encour- aged" her to volunteer for the store, which Gallatin describes as a "labor of love:' Aiding School Kids According to Sue Simon, a volunteer on the project and immediate NCJW past president, Detroit is only the fourth NCJW section in the nation to offer such a service to underprivileged children. "The project is the embodiment of everything that NCJW strives to do — and that is to positively affect the lives of women and children:' Simon said. According to Rachel Williams, devel- opment specialist at Detroit Rescue Ministry Mission, the store will fulfill the needs of children, many of them who live in single-family households where even a new toothbrush or a box of crayons may be a financial burden. "On the first day of school, we see many of our children lacking many basics:' Williams said, adding that many parents of those selected for the store are on a path of recovery from substance abuse addiction. "There are so many barriers [to success] stacked against these children even before they reach kindergarten. When we can form a partnership with agencies like NCJW, it serves the heart of our program, which is looking out for the children. They are our future:' ❑ Tireless Volunteer Gallatin believes in giving back to the Jewish community no matter where she lives. A native of New Jersey, she relo- To volunteer to set up or work the store as personal shoppers and shoe fitters, call the NCJW office at (248) 355-3300, ext. 4.