Coddingtown stores, nonprofit groups host back-to-school shopping spree

<p>More than 190 needy kids headed back to school in the coming weeks will be better dressed for the occasion thanks to a Saturday morning shopping spree at Coddingtown Mall.</p><p>Each was treated to a $150 gift card for new clothes, shoes and accessories courtesy of the Active 20-30 Club of the Redwood Empire, which additionally provided new backpacks stocked with standard school supplies.</p><p>“It was really cool,” soon-to-be-seventh-grader Joseph Breeder, of Petaluma, said after cruising the mall with his 9-year-old brother, Patrick - the two them acquiring jeans, sweatshirts, shoes, caps and other items. “I think the people were very, very generous to give us this opportunity.”</p><p>Santa Rosa fifth grader Raeli B. displayed a black and white dress with hot pink accents from JCPenney she plans to wear for school picture day. </p><p>“I just fell in love with it at very first sight,” she said, pointing out a head-band purchased elsewhere that nonetheless matched perfectly.</p><p>Involved stores — JCPenney, Old Navy, Icing, Claire's and Payless Shoe Store — opened at 7 a.m. to host the young shoppers, each accompanied by a sponsor from the 20-30 Club.</p><p>Many of the kids wore their new duds out of the mall to a south-side parking lot for a festive pancake breakfast hosted by the Santa Rosa Police Officers Association. They included a 9-year-old named Dawn, who sported long black socks with a fluorescent print and new, black faux-suede boots.</p><p>“I got a lot of ‘My mom would kill me if I got this,' “ said Shannon Tracy, who shopped with her — mostly regarding makeup and dangly earrings, clarified Dawn.</p><p>Her mom, Clare Mackenzie, laughingly said there were no actual death threats but said they'd “talked a lot ahead of time about what was appropriate.”</p><p>A third-grader named Anahi took stock of her new school supplies, including a binder, loose-leaf paper, spiral notebooks, folders, a calculator, pens and pencils, pencil sharpener, erasers, high lighters, crayons, colored pencils and a ruler.</p><p>Students at the Redwood Empire Beauty College also offered haircuts and styling, while dental screenings were offered by local dentists John Buzza and John Kim.</p><p>“It's really heart-warming to be involved,” beauty college stylist Lindsay Colt said. “Kids going to a new school or going to a new grade get that extra confidence of new clothes and a haircut. It can be that little boost that they need.”</p>