TUSTIN Lillian Garcia and her personal shopper, Laurie Abelove, got stuck in the peanut butter and jam aisle.
Seven-year-old Lillian was determined to chose a super-sized jar of her favorite brand, Skippy, for $8.99. But that would consume more than a third of their total budget – even before adding the requisite strawberry jam.
Still, the Benson Elementary second-grader, in her own polite but unbending way, wanted nothing to do with the peanut-butter-and-jelly combo for $3.99. “It’s not what my mom gets,” she finally pronounced, ending the matter.
Some 10 minutes later, after much negotiation, they rolled away with store brand peanut butter for $2.49 and jam for another $3.49. This $5.98 extravagance might just mean relinquishing something else down the line.
It was a pragmatic way to honor Martin Luther King’s birthday – a home economics lesson for kids whose parents must pinch pennies daily. Operation Warm Wishes sponsored the shopping spree, inviting kids in need to gather at the Tustin Albertsons on their day off from school for the holiday.
“We are keeping Dr. King’s dream alive,” said TyRon Jackson, founder of the Tustin-based charity. “It’s not just about African Americans but about all of us coming together no matter our backgrounds to do our part.”
Each of the 115 children who showed up received a $25 gift certificate, $5 in cash, a calculator and a list of suggested staples (i.e., no loading up on just chips and cookies).
Additionally, the kids were assigned to shopping coaches – volunteers who could help them come in under budget.
Jackson reminded shoppers they were not on the clock. “This is not a race,” he said. “Take your time.”
Albertsons surprised participants by kicking in another $5, as well as complimentary plastic bags.
And they were off.
Some kids knew just what they wanted – often, the makings for spaghetti – and were done in half an hour. Others deliberated with their coaches for 15 minutes before even setting out.
Anaheim resident Leannarose Reid, 12, and her coach, Thao Chang, began by poring over the weekly Albertsons ad in search of deals.
“Sourdough bread is on sale for $2.99,” Chang said, circling the item in red ink.
They had decided to plan a meal for Leannarose’s family of five.
“Spaghetti!” Leannarose said with a grin. “Let’s see. Is ground beef on sale?”
Chang worked the calculator to estimate whether they could figure in pound cake and strawberries, per her mentee’s request. “Hmm,” she said. “Maybe we’ll even have extra money for whipped cream.”
Sisters Jayda and Trinity Archie lucked out. They got to shop with Princess Elena, one of several Disney princesses who frequent Operation Warm Wishes events.
Trinity, 5, a kindergartner at Veeh Elementary, was so starstruck that she seemed to have lost all interest in the main mission.
“I love her,” she dramatically said, hugging the leg of Princess Elena, otherwise known as Jocelyn Sanchez.
When it came to money management, Jonathan Corona likewise lucked out. His coach, Daryl Kostka, is a retired accountant who came armed with an envelope full of clipped coupons.
The 12-year-old Utt Middle School student admitted that making his own decisions proved more fun than tagging along with Mom.
“She’s always, ‘No, you can’t get that,’” he said.
Other young shoppers could relate. In the frozen food department, Miguel Mendoza, 9, happily selected a pizza – something he said he persistently begs his mother for to no avail.
“She’ll tell me I should have gotten broccoli instead of pizza,” the Veeh Elementary student said.
Among the coaches were several officers with the Tustin Police Department – including Chief Charlie Celano, who steered two boys through the market.
“TyRon Jackson is a godsend to Tustin,” he said. “Anything he does, I’m going to support.”
Celano said he is no stranger to this household chore.
“My wife cannot stand grocery shopping, but it’s therapeutic for me,” he said. “I know how to look for bargains – I have five children.”
Contact the writer: sgoulding@scng.com
