YUMA, Ariz. – Twenty-five kids got the chance to do some free shopping at JC Penny’s in Yuma early Saturday morning thanks to the Fort Yuma Rotary Club. They sponsored the annual Back to School Shopping Spree event. Five kids were chosen from non-profit organizations around Yuma including Amberly’s Place, Arizona’s Children Association, The Boys and Girls Club, Child and Financial Services and the Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club.

“We want to make sure the kids even though they may be underprivileged or having hard times in their family, they still have something new to wear to school and that sense of person or being when they get back to school,” said Renee Dinwiddie, Fort Yuma Rotary Club President.

Each child received a $140 gift card and a personal shopper. The pairs spent about two hours combing through racks of clothes and shoes to find the perfect outfits.

Thirteen-year-old Jesus Gutierrez said life has been tough without his mom. He said he has had to stay strong for his younger siblings. His personal shopper Mike Friends sees lots of potential in him.

“He's got all the makings to be a wonderful young man and we're going to get him all the right kind of things to prevent clothing and shoes to be one of the drawbacks to having a good school experience," Friends said.

Gutierrez is excited for school. “I think going back to school is going to be good because I had a really good time last year and I think I'm going to have the same experience,” he said. “They didn't have to do this, but they wanted to do it. They volunteered to do this for everyone else so I'm really thankful for what they're doing.