Their mission is simple: clothing children in Richland County. Following the footsteps of The Store, which used to serve low-income children on Diamond Street for 36 years, the New Store hopes to offer children of Richland County new clothes and a unique experience. The New Store is located on 890 W. 4th Street in the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
They offer new articles of clothing, free of charge, to boys and girls in Richland County in need. Each child is referred to the New Store by school principals, teachers, counselors, and parents. The K-8th grade students must demonstrate financial need, as determined by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or qualify for reduced or free school lunches. Once the referral is made, the parent or guardian then must contact the New Store’s executive director and primary contact, Julie Kleshinski
“The policy is first come, first serve,” said Kleshinski. The organization holds 15 ‘dressing days’ scheduled from September through April. When the appointment is made, the students meet in the lobby and are soon assisted by a volunteer. The volunteer walks the boy or girl through the store and shops for new clothes.
Each child receives pants, shirts, a hooded sweatshirt, tennis shoes, underwear and socks. The volunteers range from Key Club members to youth group members. Volunteers each carry a clipboard with a checklist of all the appropriate clothing items. This is to ensure that every child gets exactly what they need.
The New Store served 573 students in the 2007-2008 school year, its first year of operation. This last school year, 2012-2013, they served over 1,000. “The demand for our services always exceeds our budget and ability. Our goal is to help as many children as we can afford to,” said Kleshinski. “We also strive to offer an experience that lasts a lot longer than the clothes do.”
Funding the New Store is primarily through TANF, the block grant program aimed in helping families find jobs and turn the welfare program into a temporary aid. Other donations come from private foundations and individuals. The donations are strictly monetary because the money is then used to buy new clothes.
Teresa Burkhart is one of the volunteers who shops for the clothes in stores like Old Navy and Target. She enjoys volunteering and said, “The kids are what keeps me coming back.” Volunteers are in charge of buying brand new clothes and organizing them in the store accordingly. The building lacks a loading dock and a staff to manage it, therefore no donations of used clothing is accepted.
Also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the Richland County Juvenile Court, Kleshinski has developed more empathy and a soft heart for the youth in Richland County. Sometimes, all she needs for a good day’s work is a smile from a child whom she’s helped. When asked to reflect on why she provides this service, Kleshinski said, “When the kids leave, they’re grinning ear to ear.”
For more information visit the New Store website, or check them out on Facebook, You can also call their office at 419-565-7505. For more information on TANF and how to apply for their service, click here.