Christmas Connection Helping Families With Uniforms

A local organization is stepping up once again to help families of children in Oklahoma City Public Schools who are in need. Christmas Connection is offering free school uniforms to students who have already been identified by teachers and staff throughout the district.

Donna Robison runs the program. She walked through the racks that are full, but she explained that will change as more than a thousand OKCPS students come through in need of uniforms. Robison said that many families in the district do not have the extra money to spend on uniforms.

“Retail could be up to thirty dollars for a uniform set," said Robison. "So when you're talking about five children times 30, you can do the math, and see if it's already difficult for you to meet your bills and keep food on the table, then that's just one of the things that you probably don't have extra money for.”

Each child gets a new uniform and a gently used one. There has already been more than 1,100 referrals to the Christmas Connection passed out in schools this year, and those are only the families with the most need.

“Oh it's so wonderful. We weren't able to afford uniforms this year, and we got a lot of help here,” said Rosanna Canul, a mother of four. “Very appreciated that there's people out there that will help people like that are less fortunate.”

Canul makes sure her children understand where these uniforms come from and when they can, she pays the good deeds of others forward.

“We try, we try to give back every day. Um, to other people that are less fortunate than us," said Canul. "I mean, it helps a lot.”

Robison said the need continues every year.

Specific Needs Include:

• Solid color polo-style shirts in white or navy blue without logos or insignias
• Khaki pants, shorts and skirts of all sizes
• Sports shoes and tennis shoes in all sizes

Christmas Connection is located at 5728 S. May Avenue. They are open Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.