Back-to-School Shopping Spree... For Free

Anyone who's ever gone back to school -- so practically everyone -- knows that back-to-school shopping doesn't come cheap. And even in a booming economy, not everyone can afford a spending spree to stock a closet full of new fall looks. Fortunately, for some lucky Fairhill, Cleveland kids and their parents, Zoe Bairs and Samantha Zabell offer a genius, not to mention generous, alternative.

Share What You Wear is a back-to-school shopping program for low-income family kids. And while there are surely bargains out there to be hunted down, there's nothing quite like the carefree experience of choosing what you want without the worry of numbers on a price tag. Share What You Wear gives kids that very freedom.

Orange High school students Bairs and Zabell have been organizing the nonprofit event over the past two years, collecting clothes in Bairs' basement until the big day. This week they were finally able to see the fruits of their labor: the girls served approximately 20 families per hour, and by the end of the day,200 or so kids walked off with 15 pieces of clothing each, including shoes, bags and even winter coats.

With a look of happiness earned only by doing good for others, Zabell tells WKYC News, "This is my favorite part. When you see them and they try on a coat and it fits... and they find something that they love… it's unbelievable."

Photo by Avalore, courtesy Flickr