Hundreds of families gathered at Eastlake High School on July 18 for free uniforms and school supplies during the 16th Annual Uniform Swap organized by the Ysleta Lions Club.
Families began lining up at 7 a.m., an hour before the event started, to exchange outgrown uniforms for larger sizes, saving money while preparing for the new school year.
“It helps us out a lot financially,” said Ariana Esquivel, whose son attends Escontrias STEAM Academy.
“If we can take advantage of stuff that's helping us in the community, why not?” Esquivel added.
The program allows families to donate outgrown uniforms and receive vouchers in return. Volunteers collect, wash and organize the clothes before the event. Families then use the vouchers to exchange old uniforms for newer ones, helping to reduce the significant costs associated with back-to-school shopping.
Orlando Rodriguez, president of the Ysleta Lions Club, said the Uniform Swap was just one of the many ways the club supports the community. He estimated that families spend between $500 and $1,000 a year on school uniforms.
“This is where we come in,” said Rodriguez, who has been with the club for 40 years. “They drop the uniforms off at different locations that we have set up. They receive a voucher, and they come over, and they get the larger size. So, there's a tremendous savings to families who have one to several children at home.”
For Dania Gomez, whose children attend Vista del Sol Environmental Science Academy and Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School, the savings were significant.
"I did the research to see how much it was going to be with the three kids," Gomez said. "It came out around $360."
After donating 29 uniforms, Gomez said the exchange helped reduce back-to-school expenses.
"It helps us not waste a lot of money on new ones," Gomez said.
According to Rodriguez, the event benefits between 250 and 400 families each year, helping approximately 1,000 children across the El Paso region.
In addition to receiving free uniforms, the children also got backpacks and school supplies. Free vision and hearing screenings were also available.
This was the first time Elizabeth Ojeda participated in the event. She donated 20 uniforms that her son, a seventh grader in the San Elizario school district, had outgrown. She also received a free backpack, which she filled with complimentary notebooks, pencils and markers.
“This is going to help a lot,” said Ojeda, who planned to use the money she saved to buy her son shoes and other school supplies.
Susana Hernandez brought her five children and took advantage of both the uniform exchange and hearing and vision screenings.
“For years, I was doing it on my own,” said Hernandez, who participated in the event for the first time. “I'm a single mother, so I thought, okay, I need the help. And this is really nice.”