Helping hands for back-to-school

Disadvantaged Laguna Beach students will again be provided with backpacks, supplies and clothing — just in time for the new school year.

For the third year in a row, the Women’s Resource Center, a project of the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach, is accepting donations of new and gently used items for its back-to-school party, which will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25 at the Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive.

“It costs at least $100 a kid to get them ready for school,” said Sande St. John, of the Woman’s Club. “All these families would have a very difficult time without us.”

About 100 families attend the event, at which each child will be treated to their own “shopping excursion,” St. John said.

The clothing will be arranged on tables, sorted by age and gender. “We’ll have it all set up like a giant rummage sale,” St. John said.

The children will begin by picking clothing, with the aid of “personal shopper” volunteers.

“They just go nuts,” St. John said, smiling. “At another corner of the room, we’ll be giving them supplies appropriate for their grade level.”

They hope to present every child in attendance with a backpack and their school supplies.

“I think it’s one of the best things to do, to make children happy ... it’s building the future,” said Woman’s Club volunteer and Seniors Inc. past president Louise Buckley.

“I can remember when I was a little girl; nothing was more exciting than getting something new for back to school,” Buckley said.

“The families are so grateful,” St. John said.

The event is being held in partnership with Laguna Relief and Resource Coalition and the St. Vincent de Paul society.

The Woman’s Club will accept donations of goods from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.

The club is seeking freshly laundered and gently used or new clothing for school-age children; gently used or new backpacks; and school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, notebooks and crayons.

Checks are also accepted; all money donated will go toward school supplies to supplement donations.

For more information, call Sande St. John at (949) 499-9429.