Volunteers help children choose clothes at the back-to-school shopping event in Elgin

Abril Godinez knew what she wanted when she went to Walmart in Elgin on Thursday.

The seven-year-old was looking for purple clothes for back to school. Abril had a big smile on her face as she went shopping with Blanca Garcia from the Elgin Information Center.

Abril and two dozen other children were at the store picking out clothes thanks to a back-to-school shopping drive organized by the Salvation Army’s Elgin Corps.

“We wanted to do something different,” said Rick Reigner, Elgin Corps resource development director.

While many groups in the community are doing “great things” with school bags, Reigner said the Elgin Corps wants to do something different.

“This allows us to be a little more personal and work with 25 children and really make it easier for them to start school,” he said.

On Thursday, each child was assigned a volunteer and given $150 to purchase clothing for the upcoming school year.

“So many families fall through the cracks,” Reigner continued. “This way we can identify those who really need it and help them get what they need to go back to school.”