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36 | CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION 2016
by Laurie Merrill
Grand Canyon University Arena was
transformed into a wonderland of gifts and
love this week as hundreds of volunteers gave
armloads of goodies to more than 4,500 children
during the Back to School Clothing Drive.
It was like Christmas in July, but instead of
Santa, there was Thunder, and instead of elves,
hundreds of volunteers helped students select
shorts, shirts and shoes. They filled pillowcases
and hand-knit purses with bracelets, wallets and
book marks Each of the 4,500 kids who went
through the event got a new pair of shoes.
“These kids, through no fault of their own,
don’t have the same resources we do,” said Karl
Gentles, the organization’s executive director,
as he glanced at the free shopping mall on the
arena floor.
“This is the culmination of nine months of work
each and every year. It is inspirational for us to
see it come together.”
It’s a gargantuan giving effort involving 264
schools from 40 districts, 2,600 volunteers and
fundraising that brings in more than $450,000,
Gentles said.
“GCU is enormous in its generous support of our
organization,”
Gentles said.
By hosting the event, GCU gives thousands of
young students a glimpse at the world of higher
education at young age, perhaps planting a seed
for the future, he said.
Various “department stores” set up on the arena
floor brimmed with new supplies. There were
“shops” for socks and underwear, shirts and
sweatshirts, shoes and shorts and skorts
The last “shop” was Stitches of Love. Rack
upon rack of brightly colored, beautifully made
handmade clothing was surrounded by tables
laden with hand-knit scarves, bags and caps,
handmade bracelets, bookmarks, wallets and
T-shirts.
“We are the cherry on top,” said Sandy Whitver,
Stitches of Love coordinator.
These are not hastily thrown together garments;
they are caringly stitched and are of the highest
quality. Girls’ hats may sport an additional knit
flower, and their soft bags are filled with small
toys and hair clips. The pillowcases for boys bore
colorful images of super heroes and cartoon
favorites.
Whitver said about 250 crafty volunteers make
about 48,000 garments a year for the clothing
drive.
“We start sewing on Sunday for next year,”
she said. Alajandra Sesmas, a Thomas Edison
Elementary School first-grader, was admiring a
pink bracelet on her arm.
“I can’t believe they made this,” she said.
She also had a bag, two dresses, leggings, a knit
hat and scarf hair accessories, a skort, shoes,
underwear and socks.
Each child receives items valued at about $300
retail, Gentles said.
“We are trying to remove fundamental barriers
to their school success,” Gentles said. “We do
that by providing them with school supplies.”
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or
.
Clothing drive is like Christmas
in July for kids
Photos by Laurie Merrill
Communi t y Highl ights
“ Clothing
Drive is a
Labor of
LOVE ”
Karl Gentles, Executive Director of
Back to School Clothing Drive