Clothes For Kids celebrates and gives thanks for remodel of store

Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith, Snohomish County Executive John Lovick and Lynnwood City Council President Loren Simmond along with the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce cut a ribbon in recognition of the remodeling of the Clothes for Kids store in Lynnwood. (Photos by David Pan)
Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith, Snohomish County Executive John Lovick and Lynnwood City Council President Loren Simmonds (center), along with the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, cut a ribbon in recognition of the remodeling of the Clothes for Kids store in Lynnwood. (Photos by David Pan)

Wednesday was a time to celebrate and give thanks for Clothes For Kids.

Clothes For Kids volunteers, Board members, politicians and the community gathered for an Open House and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the newly remodeled interior at its facility in Lynnwood.

“This year has been an outstanding year in the amount of community support that Clothes For Kids has received,” said Clothes For Kids Board Vice-President Mark Cholvin.

Cholvin thanked the Boeing Employees Community Fund, which gave Clothes For Kids a $39,000 grant to remodel the interior of its shop and offices.

With those funds, Clothes For Kids was able to repaint the entire store, office and work space, convert all of the lighting to energy efficient lighting and install new carpet and flooring in the store and work area. The ventilation system also was upgraded.

“Once we had the commitment to get the work done, that’s when even more work started,” Cholvin said. “We had to get everything out and open up the space and have all the space clear for the contractors to come and work.”

Woodinville High School student Keagan Leon presents Clothes For Kids program manager  Nancy Laird-Burris and Board Vice-Present Mark Cholvin with a check for $2,500 he raised as part of a Boy Scout project.
Woodinville High School student Keagan Leon (left) presents Clothes For Kids program manager Nancy Laird-Burris and Board Vice-Present Mark Cholvin with a check for $2,500 he raised as part of a Boy Scout project.

That meant all the clothing, racks and furniture had to be moved. A volunteer suggested Clothes For Kids contact the U.S.S. Nimitz to see if they could help.

“They went to town,” Cholvin said. “They were amazing. They were efficient and hard working.”

When the time came to move back into the building, volunteers from the U.S.S. Nimitz returned.

“They really carried the day for us,” Cholvin said.

Many work parties, including the Alderwood-Terrace Rotary Club, helped tear down and reassemble things at the shop.

“We are just indebted to everybody along the way,” Cholvin said. “It was truly a team effort.”

Cholvin and the gathered crowd also honored past Board President Rob Schwertley for his more than six years of service. Schwertley recently stepped down from the Board.

Woodinville High School student Keagan Leon presented Clothes For Kids with a check for $2,500. Leon raised the money as part of a Boy Scout project. Leon requested that the money be used to purchase new shoes.

Past Clothes For Kids Board President Rob Swartley was recognized for more than six years on the Board by Vice-President Mark Cholvin. Swartetely recently stepped down from the Board.
Past Clothes For Kids Board President Rob Schwertley (left) was recognized for more than six years of service by Board Vice-President Mark Cholvin. Schwertley recently stepped down from the Board.

 

 

 

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