Members of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village made the holiday season a little brighter for some some area young people with its annual Children’s Shopping Spree.
Nineteen children, selected by the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Conejo Valley, gathered at Target in Westlake Village early on the morning of December 13 to shop with volunteers representing the Westlake and Next Gen clubs.
Linda Norberg, a Westlake Club member, worked with the Boys & Girls Club and Target to organize the event. “Last year was my first year and I enjoyed shopping with the youth,” Linda said. “I wanted to make sure we got to continue it, so I led it this year. It was amazingly well coordinated between the Boys & Girls Club, Target and Westlake Rotary.”
The Westlake club gave each student $150 and the chance to work with a Rotary volunteer to pick out whatever they wanted. They selected everything from clothes and other essentials to tech and toys.
When the shopping ended,Target gave each student a $25 gift card.
“I think it is an important event because Rotary contributed financially and Target contributed financially. I think a shared event is very important,” Linda said.“Also 19 youth had a wonderful experience of being able to shop for themselves and their families. It’s my experience that most of the young people spent more on their families than they did on themselves.”
Len Smoburd, president and CEO of the Conejo Valley Boys & Girls Club, agreed the event is important for the students. “It makes them feel like somebody cares,” he said.
Captions: All photos courtesy of the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Conejo Valley.
Photo No. 1: Andy Dominguez of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village (left) and his fiancé Denise Amerson-Musitelle shop with one of the children from the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Conejo Valley.
Photo No. 2: One of the shoppers shows off her selections.
Photo No. 3: Kimmy Tharpe of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village (left) shows off a Lego set selected by her shopping buddy.
Photo No. 4: After the shopping was over, everyone gathered for a group picture.
