Shriners clothe children

By Jeanné Clark
Contributing Writer

Jasmine White holds up a brightly colored Ocean Pacific jacket,one of the items on which she spent part of her gift card from the Mount Graham Shrine Club. Photo by Jeanne Clark

Warm clothing is one of the blessings many people take for granted, but Shriner Bob Howell did his part this Christmas to help those without.

Thanks to the generosity and caring of the Mount Graham Shrine Club, about 100 children received the gift of new clothing at the club’s annual Clothe a Child event Saturday morning.

Despite the cold, families gathered inside Wal-Mart at 7 a.m. to receive an $80 gift card with which they purchased desperately needed clothes. Alongside Howell, Shrine Club President Dolan Campbell and members Phil Rhea and Fred Cates passed out the gift cards and observed as the families went on shopping sprees.

All the children at the event were excited by the new clothes they received—and they were proud to show off their new purchases before they left Wal-Mart. The children, ages 5 through 13, were selected by school nurses and teachers from Pima, Safford, Thatcher and Solomon.

“We try to select at least 20 children from each school district,” Howell said.

Howell said “there’s more need than ever this year, because of the mine shutting down.” He fears that the club won’t be able to meet the increased need since its funding is so limited. All of the funds were donated by local businesses and individuals, and since the club’s start in 1992, it has raised more than $121,680 and clothed more than 1,596 children at these annual events.

The Shriners were excited when Shrine Club Potentate Jerry Welch made an unexpected visit from Tucson.

He was pleased by the success of the event and said, “It’s just the greatest thing in the world — I always love to help people.”