SEPTEMBER 19 • 2024 | 31
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lmost 900 school children in Metro Detroit,
identified by local social service agencies,
nonprofit organizations and schools,
received new winter coats, clothing, socks, underwear,
hats, mittens, school supplies, toothbrushes/
toothpaste and books in a first-time-ever hybrid
model of the “Back 2 School Store” (B2SS).
Two hundred pre-identified children had the
opportunity to shop in person with their own
personal shopper, and 700 children were provided
with clothing and supplies courtesy of NCJW|MI
through the agencies that support their families. The
nonprofit organization, which works to improve the
lives of local families, is known for organizing the
Back 2 School Store event every August, where pre-
identified Detroit children were provided their own
personal shopper to choose the appropriate coat,
clothing and school supplies. In 2019, 750 children
attended the in-person event, but during the last four
years, the program had to be modified because of the
pandemic, with clothing and supplies distributed to
hundreds of children via agencies.
Detroit Parent Network, COTS Detroit, Hope of
Detroit Academy and Cesar Chavez Academy invited
the children for an in-person shopping experience.
The children who were in kindergarten through fifth
grade were assisted by NCJW|MI volunteers.
“We were thrilled to offer once again a shopping
experience for children where they chose items with
our dedicated team of volunteers acting as personal
shoppers,” said Back 2 School co-chair Sandi Matz,
who is a former president of NCJW|MI and who
co-chaired the event with Lisa Fox and Katie Stocker.
“Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children as they
select a new pair of pants or a T-shirt they love, or
even a toothbrush in the color they like, is as exciting
for us as it is for the children.”
The hope is that eventually the beloved operation
will return to a full in-person experience for young
shoppers.

NCJW’S Back
2 School Store

NCJWMI Volunteers Paula
Weiser and Linda Blum
assist families at the
Family Waiting Room.

NCJWMI
volunteer
Enid Schatz
and Caileen
Montgomery

NCJWMI
volunteer
Jonathan LoPatin
and Jesus and
Rose Garza

NCJWMI volunteers wait for the
next group of kids to arrive.

NCJWMI volunteer
Amy Leifer and
Ja’Kayla Norman

NCJWMI
volunteer Stacy
Zousmer and
Krisbell Bracho
Fernandez

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NCJW/MI