This is an article that was in the Ventura County Star about my Rotary Club's very successful Backpacks for Kids event:
Ventura volunteers efforts’ help students start school fully supplied
Because of the work of volunteers, 850 students throughout Ventura will be strapping on new backpacks stocked up with new
school supplies this school year.
On Saturday, about 30 volunteers spent the morning filling backpacks
to be given to select elementary, middle and high school students who
many not have otherwise been able to afford the back-to-school supplies.
“It’s our responsibility to educate our students,” said Joseph Richards,
Ventura Unified School District’s business services assistant superintendent and event volunteer. “The students are going to get a better
education when they have the tools they need to succeed.”
A collaborative effort led this year by the Rotary Club of Ventura and the Downtown Lions Club, the Backpacks for Kids
program benefits any child in need in Ventura schools. The program has been offered to the city’s students for 10 years.
Before
classes each year, program organizers ask school leaders to provide
supply lists and the number of students they think need supplies.
The program continues to grow as the lists get longer, according to
Irene Henry, Rotary Club president. Last year, volunteers put together
650 backpacks.
“We all benefit if our kids are getting a better education,” Henry said.
The program is a three-month effort to coordinate, starting with the
organizations collecting donations to ensure every student who needs
supplies, will receive them. The Rotary Club contributed the largest
monetary donation of $6,200, according to Henry.
Volunteers teamed up to get all the backpacks assembled Saturday and ready for delivery to participating schools.
In all, 22 schools will receive backpacks to hand out to students. The number of students
ranges from three at Loma Vista and Pierpont schools up to 150 at DeAnza Academy of Technology and
the Arts.
“I want to help as many kids as possible get ready for the school year,” said volunteer and teacher Anna Belitski, of Ventura.
The educator was joined by her husband Danny Belitski and two
children, Drayden, 5, and Dylan, 7. Before the Belitski family and the
other volunteers formed an assembly line to put together the bags, bins
and tall piles of
new notebooks,
markers and other supplies stood across two U-shaped sections of
tables. The volunteers would file through grabbing an empty backpack to
take to each supply pile and put at least one of each supply into the
bag.
Each bag was checked to make sure it was not missing anything.
When the packing was complete, the backpacks were stacked across the other end of the room.
Crystalin Boggs, 25, of Modesto, said she was happy knowing she was
helping kids. Boggs has volunteered for the past three years.
“When I was growing up it was hard,” Boggs said. “I know how people
need backpacks and supplies. I’m glad we are helping other kids who need
help.”
Source: vcstar.com
