MENASHA — Participation in the Community Clothes Closet's back-to-school shopping day on Saturday for low-income children just got a lot bigger. After an article about the third annual "Being Cool for School" appeared in The Post-Crescent Aug. 10, the number of children pre-registered for the event swelled from 500 to 850.

"We have just been slammed with kids," said Diane Bishop, Clothes closet executive director. "They are all our clients' kids, which is really great."

More donors, including ThedaCare, also signed on to provide jeans in kids' sizes, and J. J. Keller Foundation presented Bishop with $20,000 to cover the cost of more clothing.

"We read the story and because needy kids are part of our vision, we thought, here's an opportunity to do something," said Mary Harp-Jirschele, foundation executive director.

The foundation's small grants committee furnished $10,000 and board member Brian Keller, father of a five-year-old soon headed for school, matched that gift with another $10,000 from his discretionary funds.

"Because of them we are going to be able to offer shoes to the kids," Bishop said.

The shopping day from 9 a.m. to noon at the agency, located at 1465 Opportunity Way, will provide qualifying youngsters with new clothing, backpacks and school supplies to start the new school year.

"It provides a little something extra for the children as they start school and saves their families a lot of money," Bishop said. "The average person pays just under $300 per child for going back to school and our families can't afford it."

The eleventh hour donations have been a godsend, especially in light of the rising number of children registered, Bishop said.