Hands Across Mathews and Mathews County Social Services helped 30 needy Mathews children prepare for the upcoming school year on Aug. 10 with their annual Fresh Start Back to School shopping trip to Walmart.

Twenty-five children were funded by Hands Across Mathews and five were funded by the Mathews Family YMCA Bright Beginnings program, said Peggy Leigh, coordinator. A matching number of adult volunteers accompanied the children as they shopped for clothing and accessories.

According to Leigh, the $4,000 in Hands Across Mathews funding for 25 children came from three sources—$2,500 from the William and Catherine Owens Foundation, $1,000 from Walmart, and $500 from Kingston Parish Outreach.

Leigh said the purpose of the project is to help the children start out on a positive note for the school year. The shopping trip ended with a picnic lunch provided by the Mathews Rotary Club for the children, their parents and the adult shoppers.

HAM, Social Services, and the Y are grateful for the help they received with the project, said Leigh, adding, "together we can make a difference."

Contributions for the program are accepted all year. They can be sent to: Hands Across Mathews Fresh Start Program, P.O. Box 1303, Mathews, Va. 23109 or to YMCA Bright Beginnings Program, P.O Box 1536, Mathews, Va. 23109.

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