One hundred boys and girls aged five to 12 were set loose upon the Santa Monica Sears store at 7 a.m. Tuesday to select needed attire, including sweaters, shoes and other items, just in time for the holidays.
Volunteer chaperones from the community — including Pepperdine University students, Bruin Belles from UCLA, and local Kiwanis Club members — guided children through the store and help them put their $100 Sears gift cards to good use.
Gift cards were purchased by The Salvation Army, with the help of a generous discount from Sears.
The children are beneficiaries of The Salvation Army’s Santa Monica Corps, which provides social services to local families in need.
The fast-approaching holidays can be a financially stressful time of year for any family, but particularly so for families with additional financial considerations such as underemployment and food insecurity.
This partnership between Sears in Santa Monica and The Salvation Army is in its 28th year and has helped more than 2,000 children.
This event kicked off The Salvation Army Santa Monica Corps’ Christmas season, as it will be raising money for families in need through its iconic red kettles stationed at storefronts throughout the city.
