Imagine the looks on the faces of 500 economically disadvantaged children who get to "shop" for brand new school clothing, school supplies, and personal-care items at a "department store" set up just for them?  

Thanks to a "shop" set up by the National Council of Jewish Women (Essex County Section) that's what about 500 children got to do on August 1, when the group opened the doors to  it's "Back 2 School Store."

"The Back 2 School Store" was set up like a department store in a 4,000 foot space in B'nai Shalom in West Orange.  Volunteer personal shoppers accompanied each child on a personal shopping tour for new clothing and school supplies.  Each personal shopper spent up to an hour with each child, who shopped for a complete new outfit (shirt, pants, winter jacket, and sneakers), underwear, socks, hat, gloves, and scarf.  Each child also received a new backpack filled with school supplies and personal-care items.

All clothing and supplies were donated by the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section.  Thanks to financial contributions from local individuals, families, and businesses, NCJW volunteers shopped for brand-new clothes and supplies in major retail stores.

This year, about 500 children were individually escorted through the store to select their back-to-school items.  Last year's "Back 2 School Store" served about 300 children. More than 300 volunteers were on site at the "Back 2 School Store" to help make the day go smoothly for 500 children.

NCJW is a volunteer organization that has been at the forefront of social change for over a century.  Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms through programs and projects initiated by its network of 90,000 members and supporters nationwide.

With more than 3,000 members, the Essex County Section of NCJW is the largest in the United States.