Lakewood Residents Stuff a Bus for Kids

Athletic shorts were somewhat of an eyebrow-raising choice to wear outdoors in November, but these teenagers weren't cold.

Not at all, they maintained. They actually chose to wear shorts because they knew they would be hot from all of their rallying and jumping around on Gravelly Lake Drive to get donations for the fourth annual Stuff the Bus.

Saturday's event, which was at Clover Park High School, was just one of the ways that Caring for Kids raises money and collects coats and other clothing for some of the area's youngest and neediest residents.

In the days leading up to the event, organization founder Diane Formoso had the weather on her mind. And she was worried. It had snowed for three straight days and she feared that donations would drop off in a year of extreme need.

She shouldn't have worried.

By late afternoon, the bus was stacked with bags of coats, shoes and unwrapped toys, and they had brought in more than $2,000 in cash.

"The coats are a huge issue," Formoso said. "It's really cold out, and we have a lot of kids who have a lot of needs. Families are struggling, people have lost their jobs and run out of unemployment ... it's heartbreaking."

Formoso, whose agency works with the Clover Park School District, said that as of Nov. 7, there were 212 homeless children enrolled in district schools. The number is 64 percent of the total for all of 2009 -- and has likely risen since the last count.

The numbers are sobering. At Lakeview Elementary, one of the district's largest schools, 521 of the 590 students receive free lunch, and another 42 are on reduced-price meals. Lakeview is one of five CPSD schools at which more than 90 percent of the student body receives free lunch. Tyee Park Elementary is another, with 345 of 381 students on free lunch. Even at schools such as Idewild Elementary, long considered one of the district's wealthiest, 152 students receive free meals every day.

"It's tough out there," Formoso said. "Really tough. We have kids out there not making it. It's really scary."

It's one reason why Hari Nauth came out early Saturday morning to help gather donations from motorists passing by Clover Park.

"Being in the Clover Park School District, I see the needs day-to-day," said Nauth, a school-bus driver and member of the Caring for Kids committee. "I think it's awesome to be able to help."

It was a sentiment shared by several dozen students from Lakes, Clover Park and Harrison Prep high schools, and a pair of special volunteers, one from Bellarmine Prep and the other home for Thanksgiving break from Washington State University.

"It means everything to us to be able to help," said James Mamerto, a senior at Clover Park. "It's a good cause."

Added Adrian Walker, another senior, "It brings us together -- Clover Park and Lakes."

Formoso said she was touched by the teens giving up their Saturday to help -- and being so enthusiastic to boot. A group standing across from the school waved signs and chanted in unison: "Donate! Donate! Donate!" Their efforts paid off as motorists slowed to drop money into clear plastic containers. Some donated a few coins; one, a $100 bill.

"Besides the money we raise, the kids volunteering is the most important thing," she said. "They're fun, creative, silly -- all the great stuff. And they're really devoted."

Formoso said that Caring for Kids continues to struggle to get enough coats in sizes 5 to 16 for both boys and girls, along with jeans, shirts and new shoes. Staff at each school in the district receives clothing-bank forms that they can fill out requesting a coat, three tops, three pairs of jeans and a new pair of shoes for a student. Caring for Kids packs everything up and delivers it to the school.

In the past month, there have been 65 clothing-bank orders at Southgate Elementary alone.

Marlene Pennington, a bus driver in the district and Formoso's sister, said that the need is overwhelming this year.

"Diane considered closing down the clothing bank for a few days, but she couldn't," she said. "There is such a high demand."

Formoso agreed.

"Every day we're out bagging and asking for help and trying to get people to help us," she said, adding that a recent food drive at Dower Elementary brought in more than 2,700 cans of food.

Caring for Kids raises all of its own money to buy clothing and other items for needy children.

"Corporate giving is limited, if nonexistent, and the problem with private giving is that we have so many poor kids that they don't have anything to give," Formoso said. "At least 30 percent are doing OK, but that isn't really enough.

"It's hard for people. Once they get their own coats, it's hard to get them to donate them."

And with the holidays just around the corner, there is special emphasis on toys. Formoso wants every child in need to have something to open on Christmas morning.

The money raised Saturday will be used to purchase toys for the organization's holiday fair on Dec. 11 at Hudtloff Middle School. The annual event serves 2,000 children from 600 local families.

Donations can be dropped off at Soundview Uniserv's office at 6132 Motor Ave. SW as well as at individual schools. There is a drop box for clothing at district headquarters, 10903 Gravelly Lake Drive SW.

"It's really tough," Formoso said. "We just hope people will give. If you can pay your rent and your bills and put food on the table, we need you to help us, just a little."

She said she fervently believes that even the smallest effort will make a difference.

"When they've been fed and they're not freezing on the way to school, and their basic needs are being met, they'll be able to learn."