San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) partnered with various community groups to hold four backpack giveaways across the county, distributing more than 10,000 backpacks to students pre-Kindergarten through grade 12.
“These backpack giveaways are a great way to help our students have a successful start to the school year,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “It is important that all of our students have what they need to start the year off right with school supplies, healthy food, haircuts, and other resources so that they are excited and prepared to return to school.”
The first drive-thru giveaway event ahead of the new school year took place on Thursday, July 21 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville, CA.
SBCSS employees and community volunteers distributed approximately 4,000 backpacks to students. They were filled with essential school items including binders, folders, pens, scissors, colored pencils, calculators, glue sticks, and packs of socks.
Other services included free haircuts and COVID-19 vaccines for eligible students.
In addition to the back-to-school supplies, haircuts, and health services, staff and volunteers provided families with food boxes filled with fruit, vegetables, canned foods, and pasta to ensure students have nutritious and well-balanced meals.
“It is a lot of help for us since everything is going up so much and with three kids it’s helpful to us right now,” said parent Luz Rodriguez. “We are very thankful that people that came together to put [this event] on and give back to the community.”
Students who attended also had the opportunity to be entered into a drawing to receive one of 15 brand-new bicycles.
“We are not just giving away perishable things that you can eat, and it be gone tomorrow, but we are also giving away things that impact your mind, impact your future and spark inspiration,” said Young Visionaries volunteer Gabriel Cannon. “We definitely thank the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for just being there and providing an opportunity for us to come to serve and be served.”
SBCSS, in partnership with various community organizations, continued these same efforts at three additional events located at San Bernardino Valley College, Joshua Tree Elementary School, and Melva Davis Academy of Excellence.
The purpose of these distributions was to help the 25,000 students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento law.
For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. #transforminglives.