Sears Teams With Covington Kids to Dress Children in Need
Second Graders From Covington, Ga., Set Ambitious Goal to Raise One Ton Of Clothes
As Sears' new Covington apparel line arrived at the retailer's stores this week, Middle Ridge Elementary School in Covington, Ga., also will debut the new children's line. Second graders, who served as special program ambassadors, led more than 650 elementary students in a clothing drive to collect one ton of kids' clothes for disadvantaged children in Atlanta.
To reward the kids for their philanthropic endeavor, Sears will outfit each child in an outfit from the new Covington fall line. With the help of the national children's service organization Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), the clothes will be distributed from this quaint Georgian community to reach children in neighboring metropolitan Atlanta.
"These second graders are proof that little hearts can make a big difference through this ambitious clothing drive to collect one ton of clothes," said Mike Lesso, Sears store general manager in Lithonia at Stonecrest Mall.
"We welcome Sears and the new Covington line to Covington, Georgia, and are fortunate to show our students how small gifts can make a big difference," said Dr. Cernogorsky, principal of Middle Ridge Elementary School. "We applaud Sears for helping us reinforce this message."
The Middle Ridge students began their two-week drive to collect one ton of clothes on Sept. 16. The drive is part of the Sears American Dream Campaign, a five-year, $100 million contributions program designed to assist millions of Americans in overcoming the barriers to purchasing a house and helping provide what they need to outfit and sustain their homes and families.
Covington, the new classic line of clothing from Sears, debuted in Sears stores nationwide this fall. The collection is built on classic wardrobe essentials for men, women and children with updated styling, seasonal colors and easy-care fabrics. The line is affordably priced with items ranging from $10 for children's jerseys to $60 for men's leather boots.
About K.I.D.S.
Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) provides clothes, shoes, toys, books, beds, cribs, juvenile products, eyeglasses and everyday items needed by children living in poverty, in shelters or struck by disaster. K.I.D.S. distributes items to the needy through a network of nonprofit agencies serving more than four million children a year.
About Middle Ridge
Located 35 miles east of Atlanta, Middle Ridge Elementary School is situated in the city of Covington, Ga., in Newton County. Approximately 650 students in grades pre-kindergarten through five attend Middle Ridge Elementary School, home of the Mustangs.
About Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) is a broadline retailer with significant service and credit businesses. In 2001, the company's annual revenue was more than $41 billion. The company offers its wide range of apparel, home and automotive products and services to families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, . In June 2002, Sears acquired Lands' End, a direct merchant of traditionally styled, classic Lands' End clothing offered to customers around the world through regular mailings of its specialty catalogs and online at .
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: Ryan Mayo of LaForce+Stevens, +1-212-242-9353 ext. 198, or
Rebecca Hary of Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-3796
Web site: