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By VALERIE HERSHFIELD

New Hampshire Union Leader

10 hours, 52 minutes ago

MANCHESTER – EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Kaylee Charbonneau broke into a broad smile when she saw that her special volunteer at yesterday's Salvation Army warm clothing event was her teacher, Gail Dubois, from Wilson School in Manchester.

"We've been friends for a long time," explained Kaylee.

Kaylee was among 400 children, 7 to 15 years old, arriving at the Mall of New Hampshire at half-hour intervals throughout yesterday afternoon. Then, with lists in hand of priority items and sizes completed by parents, it was off with their volunteers for some serious shopping at Macy's and J.C. Penney to find all manner of clothing: coats, pants, sweaters, shirts, hats and gloves, shoes and underwear.

"Whatever the children's needs are, we can pretty much cover," said Salvation Army Maj. Gregory K. Hartshorn.

Each youngster had a $100 budget to work with. With store discounts, that comes to about a $120 value, said Hartshorn. "We try to keep it local and put the money back into the community."

"It's a win-win," he said, "Kids get the new styles and name brands. They get clean and new clothing, and it helps stretch the families' budgets."

The event was sponsored by the Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army, which makes possible, in addition to clothing, toys, food baskets or food vouchers, a week at Camp Sebago in Maine for 100 kids, and personal visits and essential gifts for elderly and infirm people. The 49th Santa Fund kicked off Friday and will continue through the end of December.

Kaylee said "boots that are soft inside" were at the top of her wish list. "Teal," she added before making a beeline for the JCPenney shoe department with Dubois close behind.

Miguel Canales said he'd been looking forward to "having fun and getting some new clothes." His main interest was sneakers, he said, pointing out that the ones he was wearing were "ruined."

Miguel was one of four of Amanda Canales' nine children taking part in the event.

"This is a big help," said Canales. "With so many kids, it's hard to buy the things they need."

She said the experience for her children goes beyond getting new clothes.

"They get the personal one-on-one attention" from the volunteers helping them. "They know other people donate to make this possible, and they appreciate and understand what a privilege it is for them."

"It's also good for them to learn to shop and have responsibility," said Jasmine Pena, who had two children shopping, "and, they feel like they're little adults shopping without their parents."

If there had been a savvy shopper award, it might have gone to Xitlali Marroquin and Maria Senfler, both 11. With discounts taken, the girls came in at $99.94 each. Except for pajama patterns, they bought identical Arizona brand sweatshirts, boots, tank tops and jackets.

"She got monkey pajamas and I got candy," said Maria, who also said she wanted to thank donors.

"They're the bomb," added Xitlali of the people who made the event feasible.

The kids weren't the only ones having a good time.

"We've done this for years," said Penny Sidilau, JCPenney supervisor of children's clothing. "It's so wonderful to see these kids come in. They are so grateful and appreciate everything. It's very emotional."

Children's sales associate Haylee Szczepkowski said she took lunch early so she could help set up.

"It's amazing," she said. "This is my first year, and I didn't want to miss it."

That attitude is typical of staff, said store manager Mary Pat Smolenski. "People ask to work on this day. (The kids) love it, and we love it."

Dubois said, as a teacher, she sees what children need and finds it fulfilling to know they're getting appropriate winter clothes, but her involvement has taken on even more meaning. Her daughter, Hannah, 19, was also on hand and had organized some volunteers from St. Anselm College.

"We've done it as a family since its inception," said Gail Dubois. Her husband, Armand, who died a year and a half ago, had initially gotten the family involved. "Now we also do it to honor him."

"There is a good percentage (of recipient families) this year that are working but struggling," Hartshorn said. He has been asked by some why working people are included.

"We really try to listen to the heart of the situation," he said. "We want to keep them moving forward, to continue working, instead of spiraling downward. If we can provide this, we can free up money to pay rents, mortgages or heat houses.

"We also spread the effort through other agencies," said Hartshorn.

About 230 of the children came through the Salvation Army, with the balance coming through Big Sisters and Big Brothers, The Way Home, Child and Family Service, Child Health Services and International Institute of New Hampshire.

Kaylee reappeared about an hour into the event, her shopping bag chock-full. A peek inside showed she found her "soft inside" boots. They were black, with fancy crossed laces up the front, and went nicely with a black knitted hat and gloves with snowflake designs. Her affinity for teal changed somewhere along the line to hot pink, the color of her new velour warm-up suit and matching sneakers. Her hot pink and red slippers were perfect with her Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soft flannel pajamas.

Also yesterday, families and friends enjoyed the Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army's Holiday Musical at the Palace Theatre.

The family-friendly holiday show offered a variety of Christmas music and dance performances.

Miss New Hampshire 2008 Natalie Shaw read "The Night Before Christmas," and Santa made a special appearance.

YOUR COMMENTS

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Good for the kids! Congradulations!! And for "- Robert, Manchester and the rest of the negative commentators. Bah Humbug!! J C Penny and Macys are really not high priced Name Brand Stores. So good for the kids and may Robert get COAL in his Stocking this year!!!! Unless Robert your signature is on the check paying for this????????

- E D, Manchester

I am so happy to hear such a nice story and it sounds like these kids will appreciate this too. Let's all remember that there are always those that are less fortunate than ourselves. Let's be thankful for the blessings that we do have and not bitter about the things we don't have.

- Michelle, Derry, NH

Why do they have to have Brand Name clothing? Hasn't anyone heard of shopping at Goodwill or Families in Transition for nicely worn clothing? People learn how to spread out the little money you have. Shop thrifty. You'll be surprised how far your money will go.

- Ben Stern, Manchester, NH

Now what about the middle class that needs help

- j, manchester

I do hope that these kids enjoy their new threads. Hope these kids take good care of them and that these new clothes don't end up in the "lost and found" bucket at school.

I hope that these children who receive these items are NH citizens never less USA citizens. Enjoy and take good care while some less fortunate at the time suffer.

- Ellen D., Manchester

Robert, are you going to help any of these families after the holidays? Probably not, it's much easier to complain than actually doing something about it right? $100 per child is not alot of $, I'm sure they are not spending it at Abercrombie, or Hollister or any of those high ticket stores.

Your attitude shows how selfish and uncaring you are. Bah-humbug to you!

- Tammy, Manchester

What a nice community gesture. The holidays bring out the best in people, even after all that the economy has been through, folks will still find that Cheer. Of course, that's unless you're Robert from Manchester. Don't choose to be unhappy for what you didn't get, choose to be glad that there is help out there for those that need it!

- Jenny, Raymond

$48,000.00, Spent on kids clothing so they get the styles they want.Cool ! Now what about the rest of the residents of the area that are struggling and cant get assistance and have children that want new stuff. The ecomony is in turmoil and yet kids get what they want. America! A wonderfull place lets think about this, will everybody involved get help after the holiday. Will the families that need help get a bailout like every body else. Just a thought.

- Robert, Manchester

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