SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- Hundreds of dollars in Oregon Ducks gear given away on Saturday in Springfield with hopes of spreading school spirit in more ways than one.
Springfield Public School’s “Family Center” program put on a “March Madness” clothing exchange on Saturday, March 10th, 2012, at the Brattain House near Two Rivers / Dos Rios Elementary in Springfield.
The program serves struggling families in Springfield and East Lane County.
Recently, the program received a major donation from the UO Duck Store, 3 palettes worth of brand new, unsold t-shirts from the BCS Championship game.
Normally, the shirts retail for about 20 dollars each. Today, they were free for those in need.
Coordinators say the clothes are a major boost in kids self esteem and success in the schoolhouse.
“Kind of plants that idea in their mind that, oh yeah, we live in this town here where we've got this wonderful university and I really want to go to school someday, I want to go to college. And so, they not only plant that seed early on that they want to go to college, but then they get to go around with their Duck pride on too,” says Gloria Griffith, Project Coordinator for the Springfield Family Center program.
Between 200 and 300 kids and families took part in Saturday’s giveaway. The Brattain House says it will hold another major clothing giveaway in May 2012.
To learn more about the daily services the Brattain House offers, click the following link: http://www.sps.lane.edu/15771012818586853/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=54542.
