Seniors from the thriving Optum Community Center in Surprise recently delivered a donation of school uniforms to support children in the youth programs at Wesley Community and Health Centers’ Golden Gate branch.
The donation included 406 tops, 336 bottoms, 130 pairs of shoes, 700 pairs of socks and 236 pairs of underwear.
Over about a month, seniors from six Optum Community Centers across the Valley gathered these items to benefit the children of Wesley Golden Gate. The handoff took place Sept. 19 during a small event held at the Optum Community Center in Surprise.
Wesley Golden Gate, located in Phoenix’s Maryvale neighborhood, serves children from low-income families.
Jaren Trost, Ben Brock, and Chloe Conklin played pivotal roles in launching this partnership. Early discussions identified a critical need for school uniforms in Wesley Golden Gate’s youth programs.
Conklin led the uniform drive that spanned Optum Community Centers throughout the Valley, collecting uniforms, shoes, underwear, socks, and gently used clothing for boys and girls aged 5 to 15.