MaryEllen Radtke sorts underwear from one of nearly 50 boxes which were purchased wholesale from Kmart. Radtke, a Nevada Bell Pioneer, and is helping the school district's Children in Transition program, which provides clothing to disadvantaged students. Photo by Brian Corley
Fifty boxes of socks and underwear filled the board room at the Carson City School District's administration building Friday.
Eight volunteers from the Nevada Bell Pioneers club sorted socks and underwear by sizes for the Children In Transition program.
The program is in its third year and was initiated when Kim Riggs, the school district's homeless advocate, brought the need to the club's attention.
Chairman Lee Radtke said the Pioneers have been collecting the underclothes since July.
"Kmart saves opened packages that they can't sell and we buy them from them," Radtke said.
The pioneers pay for the clothes through garage sales and membership dues.
Once the undergarments are sorted and boxed they are given to all the schools in Carson City, Dayton, Silver Springs and Virginia City, where a nurse or counselor distributes them to homeless children there.
"We're trying to allow homeless children to fit into the community," Radtke said. "I think we need to get the message out: 'Don't isolate the kids.'"
Radtke's wife, MaryEllen, described homeless as either living in a hotel or motel, living in tents by the river or living in "grandma's garage."
She also added there are about 400 homeless children in the Carson area.
Patti Rose and her husband, Don, have been volunteers for the program since its inception.
"It's important and thanks to Kmart we're able to do this. I didn't realize how many homeless kids were in Carson until Kim and Lee brought it to my attention," Rose said.
Another volunteer, Cliff Weaver, was also helping sort the socks and underwear Friday.
"It's something that has to be done and I am fortunate enough to have the time and ability to do it," Weaver said.
Each school will receive three boxes and the remainder will be kept in reserve.
Radtke said the Carson City district should be commended for supporting the program and for trying to give kids an equal chance.
The Pioneers distributed the clothes as well as notebooks to the middle schools Friday, and will go to the elementary and high schools Tuesday.
The Nevada Bell Pioneers consists of retired Nevada Bell employees who work on charities to help out the community.
The major programs the club supports are: Children In Transition, Head Start, Hug A Bear, Talking Books and Stamps For Children.