“Selecting shoes for the kids requires compromise - Lafayette Journal and Courier” plus 1 more

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Selecting shoes for the kids requires compromise - Lafayette Journal and Courier Posted: 21 Jun 2010 10:30 PM PDT Recently, I enjoyed the dubious pleasure of shoe shopping with my sons. The selection dazzles and disorients me. Pretty soon I hear myself saying, "Whatever, let's just buy something and get out of here!" Marketing at work. My sons have outgrown kids' shoes so we shop in the men's section now. Of course, they're halfway between sizes which makes the investment all the more jarring. How many weeks will we get before the blisters appear? One son begs for shoes which appear to be made for a clown and cost a hundred bucks. The other wants to run on an air pocket for a mere $170. I remind them how much food that money would buy for starving children. They nod like bobbleheads, eyes glazing over. I would drag them to the department store where a nice pair of on-sale sneaks go for $9.99 but I suspect there's more at work here than foot covering. Somehow, shoes say it all. My sons know just who owns those $200 kicks. And they know it's never going to be them. If I dig back, I can almost remember the feeling. When I was a 'tween, I got the off-rack OP shirts and shrink-to-don't-fits while my friends wore first editions. My folks kept me fed and shod but they didn't shell out for social status. Sure, I would have been shy even with a pony on my shirt. But somehow I felt more self-conscious sporting an inferior animal. Just as I believed the right shirt and pants would make me popular, my kids are certain shoes are the key to athletic and social success. Of course, now that I'm an adult, and vested with some authority -- not to mention bills to pay -- I feel obligated to make shrewder decisions than I would have made at age 12. So, the clown shoes and air pockets go back on the shelf. The salesman's face falls. Eventually, we reach a compromise. My kids choose shoes that neither embarrass them nor break the bank. And, most importantly, I can bask in a short reprieve from shoe shopping. Amy Taylor writes for the Journal & Courier momslikeme.com Web site. To contact her, call the newsroom at (765) 420-5226. Calling all moms Check out our Moms Web site -- http://lafayette.momslikeme.com -- to exchange and share ideas with other local moms. You can also find things to do with your kids, print out coupons and more. Five Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Clothes for Kids helps more families - Everett Herald Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:30 AM PDT LYNNWOOD — A nonprofit group that provides clothing for low-income children in Snohomish county wants to thank the people who helped it mark another successful year. Clothes for Kids, based in Lynnwood, provided 5,238 wardrobes to children during the recent school year. That's up more than 50 percent compared to two years ago. Every wardrobe included enough clothing to dress one child for one season: three pairs of pants, three shirts, one light jacket, one heavy coat, three sets of underwear, and a pair of shoes. "Kids were able to go shopping twice a year," said Inga Paige, the nonprofit's executive director. Now, the organization is thanking the many people in the community who helped achieve the mission. Eligible children are referred to Clothes for Kids by their school counselor, teacher, or administrator. Once approved, the children and their parents are invited to visit Clothes for Kids. The operation resembles a typical retail store. Patrons can select a full wardrobe from the selection of new and gently used clothing. The children and their families may visit Clothes for Kids twice per year, once in the fall, and once in the spring. "Just two years ago, we provided 3,500 wardrobes for children in need," Paige said. "We have seen the need increase each year, and thankfully, due to our volunteers as well as the support in the community from individuals, businesses, and community organizations, Clothes for Kids has been able to meet that demand." The nonprofit is grateful for "every volunteer who contributed to more than 7,900 volunteer hours this year, every donor and community group that helped us meet this need," Paige said. Since 1984, Clothes for Kids has helped by meeting the clothing needs of low-income children here. Clothes for Kids provides, at no cost for families, both fall and spring wardrobes, including underwear, socks, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies in a retail store environment. Ahmed Fawzi: 425-339-3449, afawzi@heraldnet.com. How to help Clothes for Kids accepts donations of cash, checks, new clothes or used clothes. For more information, go to www.clothesforkids.org. Five Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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