Alaska  Job Corps students were ready.　 Target employees were ready.　 The Salvation Army was ready.　 At nine AM, fifty young children arrived at the Wasilla department store.　 And the shopping started.

This event paired school aged, needy children with an adult shopping volunteer.　 The goal was to purchase suitable and appropriate clothing for this school year.　 A partnership between the Salvation Army and Target stores provided an $80 Target gift card to needy children. Five Alaska Job Corps students were selected to assist with this program. Alaska Job Corps students focus on 　career training, but also practice important skills like money management.　Oftentimes the Job Corps students are forced to “do more with less,” and this skill showed itself to be valuable.　 The Job Corps students were able to make the donation money go further.　　

Latia Coleman, a Human Services student said, “I know how to shop. I head for the clearance rack first and see if it has what I need.” Latia assisted three young girls from Palmer. “Each of my girls now has a pair of nice shoes, several tops, skirt and a pair of pants. Plus something cute too.” After the spree, Latia said, “This was fun, helping the children.It makes me happy that they can start the school year prepared.”　

Both the Salvation Army Lt. Lisa Davey and Target Manager, Eric McCauley said that it was a pleasure working with the Job Corps students.　 “They’re polite and professional and we enjoyed working with them.”

Career training combined with public service is a major goal of the Alaska Job Corps Center, which offers eleven career training areas in Accounting, Behavioral Health, Heavy Equipment, Carpentry, Electrical, Facilities Maintenance, Nurse Assistant, Office Administration, Water & Wastewater Treatment, Culinary Arts and Computer Technician.　 The Alaska Job Corps Center is located in Palmer Alaska and managed by Chugach Alaska Corporation. 

Photo:This was one more public service opportunity for Job Corps students to help with their community.  From Left: Christina Waugh, Lt. Lisa Davey with Salvation Army, Micahah Mullins, Latia Coleman, Robert Roehl, Michael Johnston, and Target Manager Eric McCauley.