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Ann Marie's All Stars: Sharyn Gallatin gets Detroit kids ready for school

Posted at 11:05 AM, Aug 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-30 11:05:23-04

As kids get ready to go back to school, most get ready with new clothes, shoes and school supplies, and the National Council of Jewish Women are making that possible for more children in Detroit than ever before.

Sharyn Gallatin, from the council, holds what she calls a "pop up shop" at a school in southwest Detroit. The council prepares all year for 500 people to pass through.

"They get a brand new set of back to school clothing - shirts, pants, winter coat, hat, gloves, underwear, socks, brand new shoes, backpacks, school supplies, personal items and a free book," Gallatin said.

The shop is a one-day store for pare underprivileged children in the city of Detroit.

"There’s a great need in our community based on a lot of our families, they’re low income families even if they have two working parent," Ines DeJesus of Southwest Solutions said.

Each child is paired with a personal shopper to ensure they get exactly what they like.

"Some of them have never had the experience of going shopping before, for them this may be the first time that they’re in any kind of store and even if they have been shopping this might be the first time they get to pick what they like," Gallatin added. "To see their eyes light up when they put on a piece of clothing that they’ve chose, that’s theirs, that they can own – it’s magical – the looks on their faces when they get to make a decision that’s theirs.

Each year, Galltin and the council are able to sponsor more and more children. 

"They leave with these huge smiles and grins on their faces and it’s just so special," she said. "I do what I do because I love to give back to my community, my community has been there for me for many many years."