Sears Responds to Wildfire Devastation With Nearly $1 Million in Merchandise And Funding

The Sears American Dream Campaign (SADC) is partnering with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), United Way of America, and local United Way organizations serving fire-ravaged California communities to aid families impacted by the recent wildfires. SADC will donate family apparel valued at nearly $1 million that will be distributed to families most affected. The merchandise is currently being shipped into impacted areas and will be distributed as soon as receiving and sorting have been completed.

Sears is also providing local United Ways with more than $40,000 in Sears Gift Cards to help impacted families purchase items needed to re-outfit their homes and families. Families will be identified by United Way in collaboration with community-based disaster services providers through the Long Term Recovery Program designed to help affected families develop recovery plans and access adequate assistance for recovery.

Additionally, Sears Portrait Studios is set to help families in impacted communities replace cherished photographs. Sears Portrait Studios generally archives film for six months. Families who have had a recent sitting and whose film is still being archived may order free replacement photographs. Sears Portrait Studios will also provide community organizations with certificates for 500 free portrait sittings and photographs.

Beginning Tuesday, November 4, residents who would like to donate to the United Way Fire Relief Fund can make their contributions at Sears stores throughout California. From November 4 through November 17, all Sears full-line stores in California and Arizona and Sears Dealer Stores in California will collect monetary contributions at cash registers.

The Sears American Dream Campaign is a $100 million community commitment to help strengthen families, homes and communities. For more information visit www.searsamericandream.com .

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) is a broadline retailer with significant service businesses. In 2002, the company's revenue was more than $41 billion. The company offers its wide range of apparel, home and automotive products and services to families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through its Web sites, sears.com and landsend.com, and a variety of specialty catalogs.

K.I.D.S., Inc. is a national charity that distributes donated juvenile products, clothes, toys, shoes, beds, books, art supplies and other children's products to non-profit agencies. These agencies work with children living in poverty stricken communities, homeless shelters, hospitals, AIDS clinics and relief organizations within the United States and abroad. Throughout its existence, K.I.D.S. has donated more than $350 million worth of new merchandise to children in need.

United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America. The United Way movement includes approximately 1,400 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. For more United Way information visit http://www.unitedway.org/ .

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Linda Brown Blakley of Sears, +1-847-286-8862

Web site: http://www.unitedway.org/
http://www.searsamericandream.com/
http://www.sears.com/