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Health & Fitness

Neighbors Helping Neighbors -- One Walnut Creek neighborhood has found a way to help young families in these tough economic times.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors in a suburb of Walnut Creek

When I was very young, my grandmother taught me how to iron clothes, and it’s a skill that has stayed with me ever since. Even now, I find ironing to be like a meditation, with the added benefit that I have a finished product at the end!  This week, volunteers for the Saranap Community Association (SCA) in Walnut Creek are busy washing and ironing children’s clothes to give to or exchange with young families, many of whom have children who have outgrown their clothes and toys and would like to exchange them. The SCA has been sponsoring a free Toy & Clothing Boutique as part of the Walnut Creek group’s new community service initiative, known as Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

 Stephanie Monson, chair of the SCA’s Service Committee, says the idea behind the Toy & Clothing Boutique is deceptively simple: Neighbors donate "gently used" clothing, toys, and books their children (infants to 10-year-olds) have outgrown. Then volunteers clean and iron them and sometimes even add creative dashes of buttons, bows, lace or hand embroidery.  Then on the day of the Boutique, any parent (or grandparent) can come and take home items others have donated. Everything is free. There is no admission charge. And it isn't necessary to donate something first in order to take something home for your kids.

 When the Boutique first began serving the community, Women’s Day Magazine got wind of the project and did an article that was featured in the July 2009 issue.  They titled it, “Honoring moms who are stepping up to help others in these financially tough times.”  Stephanie Monson, one of three “recession angels” featured in the article, explains, “The Toy and Clothing Boutique answers multiple needs in a suburban neighborhood where people often don’t know their neighbors. When people come together, they realize that they have mutual interests and needs, whether it’s quickly outgrown toddler outfits or carpools.”

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 Monson, a local real estate agent and mother says, “We feel that the Boutique, and the Neighbors Helping Neighbors project in general, could serve as a model, not only in difficult economic times, but also beyond. People today are looking for this kind of community. What we’ve started here for Saranap residents is designed to continue long after the recession is over.”

 The Boutique is held four times a year at The Meher Schools at 999 Leland Drive in Lafayette, in space donated by the school and the Searchlight Bookstore, which is housed at the school. Clothing is neatly displayed in a boutique-like setting, with pleasant music in the background. Toys and books are nicely arranged across the hall in the school's staff lounge. Refreshments, such as homemade cookies, brownies and punch, are provided.

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 Parents who wish to donate clothing, toys, and books are asked to bring items that meet certain guidelines. Clothing should be clean with no stains or tears. Toys should be clean, unbroken, and without missing parts. Books should have no marks or missing or torn pages. In other words, donate the kinds of things you’d be happy to bring home to your own children. 

 The spring Boutique will be held Sunday, May 15, from noon till 3 pm. All are welcome.

 For more information, or if you want to help, contact Stephanie Monson at

Stephanie.Saranap@gamail.com or leave a voicemail at 946-9185.

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